Randy Travis’ Wife Reflects on His Special Bond With Carrie Underwood: ‘She Has a Heart of Gold’

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.