If friends are the measure of a man, then Randy Travis is one truly great man.
Thirty artists, veteran and modern, turned out at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Wednesday night for “A Heroes & Friends Tribute to Randy Travis”. With the majority of singers performing songs from Travis’ catalogue, it was a heartfelt salute to one of their own who has fallen on bad times.
In July of 2013, Travis was admitted to the hospital after an upper respiratory infection affected his heart. Three days later, he suffered a stroke that severely changed his life, taking away his voice and making it difficult to walk. With years of therapy, Travis is now able to speak and sing somewhat but still walks with a noticeable gate.
Travis and his wife, Mary, sat to the side of the stage as each artist came up for their performances. Among the many veterans to take the stage were the Bellamy Brothers, Alison Krauss, Kenny Rogers, Tanya Tucker, John Conlee, Jeannie Seely, Ricky Skaggs, Alabama and Garth Brooks.
The biggest highlight of the night, though, came when Travis took the stage for the last two songs of the night, singing Amazing Grace.
The set list:
Diggin’ Up Bones – Bellamy Brothers
If I Didn’t Have You – Chuck Wicks
Point of Light – Collin Raye
Before You Kill Us All – Ricky Traywick (Randy’s brother)
Deeper Than The Holler – Alison Krauss
Promises – Jamey Johnson
Too Gone Too Long – Montgomery Gentry
Are The Good Times Really Over – Ben Haggard
King of the Road – Kane Brown
Heroes and Friends – James Dupre and Shane Owens
Look Heart No Hands – Chris Janson
Honky Tonk Moon – Rodney Atkins
Storms of Live – Joe Nichols
Love Lifted Me – Kenny Rogers
The Gambler – Kenny Rogers
Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart – William Michael Morgan
I Told You So – Tanya Tucker
I’ll Fly Away – Rudy Gatlin, John Conlee, Daily & Vincent, Jan Howard, Jeannie Seely and Riders in the Sky
Walk With Me – Michael W Smith
His Eye Is On the Sparrow – Neal McCoy
More Life – Phil Vassar
Comedy – Jeff Foxworthy
Would I – Ricky Skaggs
Angels Among Us – Alabama
Few Old Country Boys – Daryle Singletary and Mark Chesnutt
Three Wooden Crosses – Josh Turner
Better Class of Losers – Travis Tritt
I Won’t Need You Anymore – Charles Esten
On the Other Hand – Wynonna
1982 – Scotty McCreery
He Walked on Water – Michael Ray
This Is Me – Chris Young
No Place Like Home – Paul Overstreet
Forever and Ever, Amen – Garth Brooks
Amazing Grace – Randy Travis and Full Cast
Will the Circle Be Unbroken – Randy Travis and Full Cast
