Randy Travis stunned the crowd at the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday, October 16, when he sang a few lines from “Amazing Grace” three years after suffering a debilitating stroke that left him unable to even speak.
In the talked-about moment, the Grammy-winning musician, 57, was being inducted into the hall and took the podium to accept the honor with his wife, Mary Davis Travis, and his longtime friends Garth Brooks and Brad Paisley.
The “Forever and Ever, Amen” singer stood up out of his wheelchair to deliver a memorable, emotional performance. According to USA Today, he is still unable to speak in full sentences, but he was able to belt out the lyrics to the classic hymn.
He even received a standing ovation from the Nashville crowd, which included such country superstars as Alan Jackson, Dolly Parton, Trisha Yearwood and fellow honorees Charlie Daniels and producer Fred Foster.
“Randy stared death in the face, but death blinked,” Travis’ wife, who delivered a speech on his behalf, told the audience. “Today, God’s proof of a miracle stands before you.”
Randy was hospitalized in 2013 for viral cardiomyopathy, a condition that caused his heart to beat slower. This led to congestive heart failure and then his life-threatening stroke. Mary revealed that her husband has undergone multiple surgeries and physical therapy treatments to overcome his health problems and learn to walk again.
The county star was previously married to Elizabeth Hatcher-Travis from 1991 to 2010. He tied the knot with Mary in 2015.
