Artists Pay Tribute To Randy Travis With Emotional Evening In Song

Pictured (L-R): Randy Travis; Justin Luffman (VP Brand Management, WMN); Peter Strickland (Chief Marketing Officer, WMN); Mary Travis; Cris Lacy (VP A&R, WMN)
Photo Credit: Rick Diamond / Getty Images

Since his major label debut album, Storms of Life, released in 1986 on Warner Music Nashville, Randy Travis has become a touchstone for champions of traditional country music. His one-of-a-kind vocal stylings brought country music back to its traditionalist roots, and garnered hit song after hit song. He would translate that success into acting as well, with roles in television (Touched By An Angel, A Holiday To Remember), and movies (The Rainmaker, Black Dog, The Wager).

In the past four years, Travis has poured that same heart and work ethic into his ongoing recovery from a stroke that nearly took his life in 2013.

Last night, at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, Travis was the man of the evening, sitting with his wife Mary at the side of the stage as more than two dozen artists turned up to pay homage, including Alabama, Rodney Atkins, Garth Brooks, Kane Brown, Mark Chesnutt, James Dupre, Charles Esten, Jeff Foxworthy, Montgomery Gentry, Ben Haggard, Chris Janson, Jamey Johnson, Alison Krauss, Neal McCoy, Scotty McCreery, William Michael Morgan, Joe Nichols, Paul Overstreet, Shane Owens, Michael Ray, Collin Raye, Ricky Skaggs, Kenny Rogers, Daryle Singletary, Michael W. Smith, The Bellamy Brothers, The Randy Travis Band, Ricky Traywick, Travis Tritt, Tanya Tucker, Josh Turner, Phil Vassar, Chuck Wicks, Wynonna, Chris Young.

Randy Travis leads the grand finale at 1 Night. 1 Place. 1 Time: A Heroes & Friends Tribute to Randy Travis at Bridgestone Arena on February 8, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Outback Concerts.

Each was backed by Randy Travis’ band, which included several members who have been with Travis since his days of performing in North Carolina and later at the Nashville Palace, where he was then known by his actual surname, Traywick.

Backstage during a pre-show media event, Travis’ wife Mary revealed that each artist was told to choose two songs they would like to cover, largely leaving the set list for the evening up to the artists themselves.

“It was a first-come, first-serve kind of thing,” Mary said. “The artists that we have known for a long time that may have been fond of a song, like Jamey Johnson is a song that when we were in the hospital and Randy was still in a coma, Jamey would come to the hospital and stand at the foot of his bed and sing this song. There are songs that were attached to certain artists that really were important for them to have.”

Among the highlights were indeed Johnson’s quiet yet commanding take on “Promises,” and Alison Krauss’ graceful rendition of “Deeper Than The Holler.”

Warner Music Nashville’s Peter Strickland recalled how, as a kid living in Boston, hearing Travis’ Storms of Life album in 1986 changed his career path.

“This is the reason I moved to Nashville, this record. I never thought I would have the privilege and honor to work with Randy my entire career. It’s amazing to be able to do that. On behalf of Warner Bros. Records and Warner Music Nashville, congratulations.”

Strickland reeled off an impressive list of accolades Travis has accumulated in his more than three decades in music: 25 million records sold, 22 No. 1 records, 6 No. 1 albums, 6 Grammys, 6 CMAs, 9 ACMs, 10 AMAs, 8 Dove Awards, star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and last year, a Country Music Hall of Fame inductee.

NASHVILLE, TN – FEBRUARY 08: Darrin Vincent of Dailey and Vincent; Jeannie Seely; John Conlee; Jamie Dailey of Dailey & Vincent; Jan Howard; Rudy Gatlin; and Doug Green, Fred LaBour, and Woody Paul of Riders in the Sky. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Outback Concerts. [Click to enlarge photo]

William Michael Morgan offered a spot on rendition of “Hard Rock Bottom Of Your Heart,” his voice effortlessly mimicking Travis’ signature vocal inflections.

Chris Janson livened up the heart-tugging “Look Heart, No Hands” with a harmonica solo, as cameras zoomed in on Travis and wife Mary holding hands during the performance.

“The first song I heard was ‘Diggin’ Up Bones,’” Janson recalled. “My dad would say, ‘This is the good stuff. This is the real stuff.’ I wrote my first five songs with the guy who co-wrote songs like ‘Look Heart, No Hands.’”

Chris Young offered a sterling rendition of “This Is Me,” while Josh Turner turned in a warm, understated version of Travis’ country-gospel tune, “Three Wooden Crosses,” which took the industry by surprise and topped the country charts after its release in 2002.

Though Travis’ extensive catalog held enough songs for every artist to cover, some artists opted to honor him with their own songs. Alabama welcomed a choir to the stage for “Angels Among Us,” while Kenny Rogers offered his own “The Gambler,” while video footage of his movies played in the background.

CCM artist Michael W. Smith performed the worship song “Walk With Me,” while Neal McCoy paid tribute with one of Travis’ favorite hymns, “His Eye Is On The Sparrow.”

Randy Travis speaks at a press conference during 1 Night. 1 Place. 1 Time: A Heroes & Friends Tribute. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Outback Concerts.

Travis, who was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1986, was honored by fellow Opry members for a group performance of “I’ll Fly Away,” featuring Jan Howard, Jeannie Seely, John Conlee, Riders In The Sky, Dailey & Vincent, and Rudy Gatlin.

Video tributes were sent in from Carrie Underwood and Ricky Van Shelton. Mayor Megan Barry was on hand to declare Feb. 8, 2017 as Randy Travis Day in Nashville.

Reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Garth Brooks performed Travis’ perhaps best-known song, 1987’s “Forever and Ever, Amen.”

“This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done is sing one of your songs with you sitting there,” Brooks told Travis. “It’s gonna suck, but it’s all love.”

As the song wound down, Brooks offered the microphone to Travis, who seemed to bless the entire event with a final “Amen.”

Travis, his signature baritone voice still warm and sincere, then walked (with Mary’s help) to the front of the stage and led the crowd of fans and artists in a rendition of “Amazing Grace,” followed by “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.”

Net proceeds from the event benefited the Randy Travis Foundation, which raises funds for stroke research and rehabilitation.

Kenny Rogers (right) greets Randy Travis (left) and Mary Davis (center) during 1 Night. 1 Place. 1 Time: A Heroes & Friends Tribute to Randy Travis. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Outback Concerts