Randy Travis’ Wife Reflects on His Special Bond With Carrie Underwood: ‘She Has a Heart of Gold’
Randy considers Carrie one of the greatest vocalists in country music.
Carrie Underwood, Randy Travis; Photo Courtesy Carrie Underwood
Randy Travis has a long history with fellow country star Carrie Underwood, and according to his wife, Mary, the country music icon believes Underwood is one of the greatest singers in the genre.
Randy and Carrie’s friendship dates back to 2007, when she recorded a cover of his classic hit “I Told You So” for her second studio album, Carnival Ride. Randy later joined her for a duet version of the song, which went on to top the charts and earn the pair a GRAMMY Award for Best Country Collaboration at the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards.
In 2008, Underwood performed “I Told You So” on the Grand Ole Opry stage, and immediately afterward, Travis surprised her with an invitation to become a member of the Opry family. The following year, the two famously reunited to perform their duet on American Idol during the show’s Grand Ole Opry week.
During a recent interview with WUOB, Mary Travis reflected on Randy and Carrie’s relationship and shared his heartfelt thoughts on Underwood, as well as another powerhouse vocalist, Trisha Yearwood.
“Carrie and Randy have had such a fun history ever since she was on American Idol. She re-cut ‘I Told You So,’ and their duet won a Grammy Award. Randy said Carrie Underwood has one of the greatest voices in country music; her and Trisha Yearwood,” Mary revealed. “Randy’s the one that invited Carrie to be a member of the Opry.”
Another unforgettable moment between the two country stars was during the NBC broadcast of the Opry 100 Anniversary celebration, when Carrie made her way off the stage and into the pews to sing “Forever and Ever, Amen” and passed the mic over to Randy to sing the final word, “Amen.”
Of that incredible moment, Mary shared, “The producers of the show wanted to do this. We didn’t know how things were going to pan out, but Carrie did it so naturally. I think it shocked everybody when Carrie walked down. I think it’ll go down in history as one of those timeless moments. She has a heart of gold,” Mary said. ”I’m tickled to death they broadcast it. So many things that go on in Nashville should be chronicled like that, but seemingly get lost forever.”
Randy Travis continues to inspire fans more than a decade after the 2013 stroke that doctors said gave him less than a 1% chance of survival. Defying those odds, the Country Music Hall of Famer not only recovered but also re-learned how to walk. Though he developed aphasia, which affects his ability to communicate verbally, Travis remains remarkably active — attending events, supporting fellow artists, and even hitting the road on tour.
For fans eager to see Randy Travis back on the road can catch the More Life Tour. Joined by his original touring band and special guest vocalist James Dupré, Travis delivers an extraordinary musical experience that brings his timeless hits to life. The show takes fans on an unforgettable journey through his legendary career, featuring video highlights from his decades in music, film, and television.
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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