As artists continue to break through on the country music scene,
there stands a successful group of seasoned veterans who went
through the very same process years ago.

With a résumé that includes more than a dozen studio albums and
30 singles on the Billboard charts, Randy Travis is unquestionably
a member of that group.

In an era when Travis’ country voice and style was deemed “too
country” for many recording studios, the North Carolina native
topped the charts with “On the Other Hand” in 1986 and has since
followed it up with more than two dozen additional Top 10 hits.

His music career began at a critical point in Travis’ life, and
he said the timing couldn’t have been better. Battling with both
drugs and alcohol as a young adult, there came a point in his life
when he realized he needed to change his habits.

For nearly a decade — from the time he was a teenager until he
reached his mid-20s — Travis sought a record deal. Although he was
repeatedly turned down, he didn’t let that stop him. Looking back
on it now, he said he’s glad he didn’t obtain fame and fortune (as
well as the added responsibilities that come with it) during such a
rough time in his life.

“I’m glad I had to wait until I was 25 years old (to get
signed),” he said. “Timing played a big part in it. I think if
anything had happened that early on — with what I was doing in
those days — I wouldn’t have lived to be 25, much less 51.”

The second of six children growing up on a farm in rural North
Carolina, Travis was forced to take guitar lessons by his father,
who came from a musically inclined group of family members. By the
time he was 9, Travis was playing and singing in bands with family
and friends.

Growing up on a farm also sparked Travis’ interest in horses,
which in turn led to his interest in the Wild West, which in turn
led to a side career in acting.

“While my career in music progressed, to tell you the truth, I
thought, ‘I’d love to work in a western,’” he said. “That’s how it
all started.”

His first role in front of the camera came working with Andy
Griffith for two episodes on the legal drama, “Matlock.”

“When you get to work with Andy Griffith, that’s as good of a
start as you can hope for,” Travis remarked.

Although Travis did also act in some westerns like he had hoped,
it’s his career as a musician for which people will most remember
him.

With a tremendous amount of success and awards in the country
music scene during the late ’80s and early ’90s, Travis wanted to
follow another dream of his: creating a gospel project.

A born-again Christian, Travis said his faith has played a vital
role in his life since his 20s, when he was baptized in a small,
rural church outside of Nashville. In the early 2000s, his faith
and his musical talent combined for success in the gospel music
industry.

“I wanted to continue to learn and the gospel music that stemmed
from that literally took on a life of its own without planning it,”
Travis said.

Studio recordings led to gospel performances, which provided a
different atmosphere than his county music shows, he said.

“We were doing (the performances) with just guitars and it was a
lot of fun for me,” Travis explained. “It put me back to when we
were little kids playing. I like that format.”

Three gospel albums from 2000 to 2003 produced a variety of
hits, including “Three Wooden Crosses.” The single, from the “Rise
and Shine” album in 2002, was one of the first gospel songs to made
such an impact on country music radio — the hit reached No. 1 on
the charts and was named the CMA song of the year in 2003.

In 2008, Travis released his first mainstream country album
since 1999 with “Around the Bend,” which peaked at No. 3 on the top
country albums chart.

Celebrating nearly 25 years on the national country music scene,
Travis recently bridged a gap between the older and younger
generations of fans when he teamed up with Carrie Underwood in 2009
to perform and record a new version of his 1988 song “I Told You
So.”

Travis has also recently been featured on County Music
Television’s show “Crossroads,” which paired him with budding
country singer Josh Turner.

“Carrie made a phone call and asked if she could re-record ‘I
Told You So,’ and I said, ‘Yes, and anything else you want,’”
Travis joked. “She is just so down to earth and a phenomenal
singer. I’ve enjoyed working with her, and same thing with Josh.
He’s just one heck of a good guy.”