What disease does Randy Travis have? Health struggles explored amid Country Icon’s Opry 100 special appearance

Randy Travis shared an emotional moment with Carrie Underwood on his Opry 100 special appearance on March 19, 2025.

The event, held at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville saw the Country singer paying tribute to Travis. She performed Three Wooden Crosses and Forever and Ever, Amen. The ending of the latter song moved the audience to tears when Underwood handed him the microphone to sing the closing line.

"Randy Travis everybody," Underwood said.

According to a report in Fox News, Travis suffers from severe aphasia. He had limited ability to communicate and often relied on his wife, Mary Davis for assistance during interviews.

This event, hosted by Blake Shelton, featured a star-studded lineup that included Jelly Roll, Reba McEntire, Post Malone, Trace Adkins, Lainey Wilson, and Kelsea Ballerini, according to Fox News. The 100th anniversary special was broadcast live on NBC and Peacock.

The 65-year-old was also joined by country artist Clay Walker, who announced that he is working on a biopic, Forever and Ever, Amen!

Despite the health challenges, Travis continues to engage with fans. Although he could not sing, his presence on stage was enough to draw the crowds. So, what happened to the legendary singer which left him in such a state? Here are the details.

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Exploring the health struggles of Randy Travis

Born on May 4, 1959, in North Carolina, Randy Travis rose to fame in the mid-1980s. His first album, Storms of Life (1986), ranked number one on the Billboard Country chart and sold more than three million copies, according to Britannica.

He went on to give some of the biggest country hits of the decade and was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1986, as per NBC. He entered the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016.

He was admitted to the hospital in July 2013 where he found himself suffering from viral cardiomyopathy, a heart condition. But three days later he suffered a near-fatal stroke, one that placed him on life support, and required immediate surgery to relieve swelling around his brain, indicated a report in USA Today.

After his hospitalization, he was admitted to a physical therapy facility, where he was diagnosed with Aphasia, a condition that affects a person’s ability to communicate.

“Aphasia has taken a lot of Randy’s speech and of course the singing away ... I want people to understand that Randy understands everything, it’s just that he can’t communicate as effectively as he once did.” His wife told Woman’s World in 2023.

However, Travis released his first music album in 2024 after suffering a stroke in 2013. His song titled, Where That Came From, is made using an AI version of his voice trained on past audio tracks.

“Eleven years ago I never thought I would be able to have a hand in music production of any kind, but by God’s grace and the support of family, friends, fellow artists and fans, I’m able to create the music I so dearly love,” he shared on Facebook last year.

In addition to its 100th anniversary, Grand Ole Opry also celebrated the anniversary of Travis’s iconic debut at the venue on March 5, 2025. On February 28, it announced the news on Instagram and wrote:

"Randy Travis is thrilled to return to the @Grand Ole Opry on March 5 for an exciting #Opry100 appearance and a special announcement LIVE from the stage. Join us on the anniversary of Randy’s iconic debut to be the first to hear this exciting news."

Travis is also embarking on the More Life Tour in 2025, where he will be present on stage alongside guest vocalist James Dupré, who will perform his hit numbers. Travis will not be singing but will be present on stage with his wife, Mary engaging with his fans throughout the show, according to his official website.