Randy Travis Pens Emotional Letter: ‘When My Last Silent Prayer Is Said, I’ll Thank God for Garth Brooks In My Life’
The newly crowned CMT Artist of a Lifetime, Randy Travis, just penned an emotional tribute to his longtime friend Garth…
Garth Brooks & Randy Travis; Photo Courtesy of Getty Images for CMT
The newly crowned CMT Artist of a Lifetime, Randy Travis, just penned an emotional tribute to his longtime friend Garth Brooks.
Travis shared a series of photos of himself alongside Brooks, Trisha Yearwood and his wife, Mary, with a lengthy caption dedicated to Brooks.
“When my last silent prayer is said, I’ll thank God for @garthbrooks in my life,” Travis began.
He went on to reflect on his life and his relationship with the fellow superstar, writing:
Our lives are like a mountain range — each a separate mountain, a different elevation, a different climb to the top, with different views — but it takes them all to make a range. The higher you go, the more you see, the greater the rush, the harder the fall. I’ve had my share of it all. Now, I have the chance to glance back on ones that made my climb better, easier and more worthwhile.
Garth Brooks came along right behind me and kept cheering me on as he climbed his own ‘taller’ mountain! I’m so glad one was near the other. I’m on the other side of my mountain, so we don’t see each other as much; but, never a day goes by that I doubt Garth is still there for me — telling the world now, what he told me back then.
It took us all to get us where we are — to see what we saw, and do what we did — and what a beautiful range we made! Thank you, Garth, for the time you always take from your climb, to check on me and share your kind words with the world about what I meant to you. I may have helped bring our genre back to life, but you taught it how to live!
He closed the touching note with a message to Brooks and Yearwood.
“God bless you and @trishayearwood, always, as y’all have blessed multitudes, daily,” he shared. “I love ya’, Brother.”
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The emotional letter comes just days after Brooks presented Travis with the Artist of a Lifetime honor at the star-studded 2021 CMT Artists of the Year special.
“I said this before, and I’ll say it again, Randy Travis single-handedly saved country music,” Brooks declared.
He went on to admit, “I wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for Randy Travis.”
As Travis and his wife, Mary, looked on, Brooks shared, “Every artist that takes the stage over the next hundred years should bow to this man and thank him for his contribution… Artists like this guy only come once in a lifetime.”
Travis made his way to the stage with Mary by his side. He officially accepted the trophy as Mary shared a touching message on his behalf.
“As Randy would say, and I think he said it before, It’s a pretty good night for me,” she said.
“After listening to these artists tonight and these artists tonight and these uplifting songs and the great sounds that are coming from them. Thank you so much for following in the footsteps because we fully expect to see y’all up here one day, celebrating you as Artist of a Lifetime,” she told the artists in the room.
As she continued to speak for Travis, who nodded along throughout the speech, Mary said, “The stroke may’ve taken the voice, but it didn’t take the man, and it didn’t take the heart.
You know what else it didn’t take? The music, well have that forever and ever, amen.”
Closing the speech, Mary thanked God, the city of Nashville, Warner, Kyle, his writers, his team and his fans.
Past recipients of the Artists of a Lifetime honor include Reba McEntire (2019), Loretta Lynn (2018), Shania Twain (2016), Kenny Rogers (2015) and Merle Haggard (2014).
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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