Editing Randy Travis (section)

===2000{{ndash}}2003: Switch to gospel and "Three Wooden Crosses"===
[[File:Kenny Chesney 20070830.jpg|thumb|left|Kenny Chesney (pictured in 2007) collaborated with Travis on the 2000 single "Baptism".|alt=Kenny Chesney, singing with one arm extended and the other holding a microphone]]
While he was still on Warner, Travis had begun working with Lehning on a [[gospel music]] album.<ref name="inspirational allmusic">{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/inspirational-journey-mw0000100955 | title=''Inspirational Journey'' | publisher=AllMusic | accessdate=January 19, 2024 | author=Todd Everett}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/629763252/ | title=Mysterious rhinestone cowboy to play the Palomino Club | work=[[The Charlotte Observer]] | date=November 12, 2000 | accessdate=January 19, 2024 | author=Mark Price | page=10F}}</ref> Other than a cover of "[[Amazing Grace]]", the two intentionally sought to include original content. Travis finished the tracks at a time when he was not on a record label. Through a connection Lehning had with [[Word Records]] executive Barry Landis, Travis was signed to that label in late 2000 and released the gospel album, by then titled ''[[Inspirational Journey]]''.{{sfn|Travis|Abraham|2019|pages=149, 150}} [[Waylon Jennings]] and [[Jessi Colter]] provided guest vocals on "The Carpenter".<ref name="inspirational allmusic"/> [[Kenny Chesney]] sang duet vocals on "[[Baptism (Kenny Chesney and Randy Travis song)|Baptism]]" (also titled "Down with the Old Man (Up with the New)"),{{sfn|Whitburn|2017|pages=365, 366}}<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2000/BB-2000-11-04.pdf | title=Randy Travis taps his faith for set | author=Deborah Evans Price | magazine=Billboard | page=15 | date=November 4, 2000}}</ref> which served as the first single. The two had previously recorded the song for Chesney's 1999 album ''[[Everywhere We Go]]''.<ref name="inspiration"/> ''Inspirational Journey'' won two [[Dove Awards]] in 2001: Bluegrass Album of the Year for the album itself, and Country Recorded Song of the Year for "Baptism".<ref name="dove">{{cite web | url=https://doveawards.com/awards/past-winners | title=Dove Awards search | publisher=[[Dove Awards]] | accessdate=February 15, 2024}} Enter "Randy Travis" in search box.</ref> AllMusic reviewer Todd Everett found influences of bluegrass, [[Don Williams]], and Lefty Frizzell, and found it consistent with Travis's 1980s and 1990s albums in tone.<ref name="inspirational allmusic"/> Alanna Nash of ''Entertainment Weekly'' was less favorable, as she thought that the album had strong opening tracks but added that "midway, it deteriorates into Nashville formula, with simplistic homilies [and] overblown production".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ew.com/article/2000/11/10/inspirational-journey/ | title=''Inspirational Journey'' | publisher=Entertainment Weekly | date=November 10, 2000 | accessdate=January 19, 2024 | author=Alanna Nash}}</ref>

Following the [[September 11 attacks]] in 2001, Travis co-wrote and released a promotional patriotic single titled "America Will Always Stand".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/188440786/ | title=Randy Travis may sing patriotic new single in O.C. at weekend concerts | work=The Los Angeles Times | date=October 3, 2001 | accessdate=January 19, 2024 | page=F4}}</ref> Proceeds from sales of the single were donated to the [[American Red Cross]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cmt.com/news/v14ag5/randy-travis-stands-with-america | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119201709/https://www.cmt.com/news/v14ag5/randy-travis-stands-with-america | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 19, 2024 | title=Randy Travis stands with America | publisher=[[CMT (American TV channel)|CMT]] | date=October 1, 2001 | accessdate=January 19, 2024}}</ref> He continued with Word as a gospel artist and put out his next album for the label, ''[[Rise and Shine (Randy Travis album)|Rise and Shine]]'', in 2002. The lead single was "[[Three Wooden Crosses]]". According to Travis, songwriters [[Kim Williams (songwriter)|Kim Williams]] and [[Doug Johnson (record producer)|Doug Johnson]] had pitched the song to [[Michael Peterson (singer)|Michael Peterson]], who at the time was recording with Lehning. Peterson suggested Lehning take the song to Travis, for whom he thought it was better suited.{{sfn|Travis|Abraham|2019|pages=152, 153}} By early 2003, "Three Wooden Crosses" became Travis's sixteenth and final number-one on ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs. It also accounted for his highest solo peak on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] at number 31. The project charted one other single in "Pray for the Fish", which fell below top 40 on the country charts.{{sfn|Whitburn|2017|pages=365, 366}} Robert L. Doerschuk of AllMusic called the album "a strong performance, presented with flawless studio clarity and persuasive, understated feeling."<ref name="robert">{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/rise-and-shine-mw0000226703 | title=''Rise and Shine'' | publisher=AllMusic | accessdate=January 19, 2024 | author=Robert L. Doerschuk}}</ref> Remz noted the consistency of Lehning's production and Travis's voice, as well as the presence of original songs co-written by Travis.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=2277 | title=''Rise and Shine'' review | publisher=Country Standard Time | accessdate=January 19, 2024 | author=Jeffrey B. Remz}}</ref> In October 2003, ''Rise and Shine'' was certified gold.<ref name="riaa"/> At the 2004 Grammy Awards, ''Rise and Shine'' won a [[Grammy Award for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album]], while "Three Wooden Crosses" was nominated for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.<ref name="grammy"/> That same year, "Pray for the Fish" won a Dove Award for Country Recorded Song of the Year.<ref name="dove"/>