Editing Randy Travis (section)

===2013{{ndash}}2018: Stroke and subsequent career===
In July 2013, Travis experienced difficulty breathing while working out at his home gym.<ref name="damaged">{{cite web | url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2017/02/07/randy-travis-damaged-but-still-fighting-after-near-fatal-stroke/97360532/ | title=Randy Travis: 'Damaged,' but still fighting after near fatal stroke | publisher=The Tennessean | date=February 7, 2017 | accessdate=January 20, 2024 | author=Cindy Watts}}</ref> He was hospitalized in [[Dallas, Texas]], for [[viral cardiomyopathy]]. While undergoing treatment, Travis suffered [[congestive heart failure]] and a [[stroke]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nj.com/indulge/2013/07/cardiologist_explains_disease_that_attacked_country_singer_randy_travis_heart.html | title=Rutgers cardiologist explains singer Randy Travis' heart disease | publisher=NJ.com | date=July 25, 2013 | accessdate=January 20, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/413805062/ | title=Singer Randy Travis suffers stroke | work=[[The Paducah Sun]] | date=July 11, 2013 | accessdate=January 20, 2024 | author=Chris Talbott | page=3C}}</ref><ref name="rauf">{{cite web | url=https://www.everydayhealth.com/stroke/country-singer-randy-travis-opens-up-on-life-after-stroke/ | title=Singer Randy Travis: Regaining His Voice — and His Life — After a Massive Stroke | publisher=Everyday Health | date=August 13, 2019 | accessdate=January 20, 2024 | author=Don Rauf}}</ref> The stroke affected the left side of Travis's brain, impacting movement on the right side of his body. Travis was placed on [[life support]] after the infection caused his lungs to collapse, and was declared to have a one percent chance of survival.<ref name="rauf"/> The infection, subsequent stroke, and three separate bouts of [[pneumonia]] led to Travis undergoing three [[tracheostomy|tracheostomies]] and two brain surgeries.<ref name="rauf"/> He also suffered [[aphasia]], lost the ability to speak and sing, and had vision problems. These issues were mitigated through years of therapy.<ref name="rauf"/> While the stroke largely left him unable to sing or speak, he soon began recovering. According to [[Taste of Country]], within a year of the stroke, he was able to walk short distances without assistance, and was re-learning to write and to play guitar.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tasteofcountry.com/randy-travis-health-recovery-update/ |title=Randy Travis' Fiancee Updates His Recovery |author=Sterling Whitaker |website=Taste of Country |date=November 7, 2014 |access-date=November 8, 2014}}</ref>

Despite his stroke, Travis released a pair of previously-recorded [[cover song]] projects between late 2013 and early 2014. The first was ''[[Influence Vol. 1: The Man I Am]]''.<ref name="allmusic"/> Among the covers were Lefty Frizzell's "[[Saginaw, Michigan (song)|Saginaw, Michigan]]", [[Ernest Tubb]]'s "Thanks a Lot", and George Jones's "[[Why Baby Why]]". The only track on the album not to be a cover was "Tonight I'm Playin' Possum", a duet with [[Joe Nichols]]. Remz noted that many of the cover songs chosen were written or performed by [[Merle Haggard]], and spoke favorably of Lehning's "low-key" production.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=5232 | title=Influence Vol. 1: The Man I Am | publisher=Country Standard Time | accessdate=January 20, 2024 | author=Jeffrey B. Remz}}</ref> The second volume of this project, ''[[Influence Vol. 2: The Man I Am]]'', followed in 2014.<ref name="allmusic"/><ref name="mayhem">{{cite web | url=https://musicmayhemmagazine.com/randy-travis-is-preparing-to-release-a-brand-new-album-from-the-vault-it-has-already-been-mixed-everythings-ready-to-go/ |last1=Lorge|first1=Melinda|title=Randy Travis Is Preparing To Release A Brand New Album From The Vault: "It Has Already Been Mixed, Everything's Ready To Go" | publisher=Music Mayhem Magazine | date=August 4, 2023 | accessdate=January 26, 2024}}</ref> Like the first volume, it included covers from Haggard, Tubb, and Frizzell, as well as [[Kris Kristofferson]] and [[Waylon Jennings]]. Erlewine said of this project, "he makes it sound easy when you know damn well it isn't."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/influence-vol-2-the-man-i-am-mw0002701504 | title=''Influence Vol. 2: The Man I Am'' | publisher=AllMusic | accessdate=January 8, 2025 | author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}}</ref> In 2015, he made a guest appearance at the Academy of Country Music awards ceremony, where [[Lee Brice]] paid tribute to him by singing "Forever and Ever, Amen".<ref name="secretly">{{cite web | url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/randy-travis-secretly-marries-mary-davis/story?id=30472284 | title=Randy Travis Secretly Marries Mary Davis | publisher=ABC News | date=April 21, 2015 | accessdate=January 20, 2024}}</ref>

In 2016, Travis was inducted into the [[Country Music Hall of Fame]], and sang "Amazing Grace" at the induction ceremony.<ref name="damaged"/><ref name="mary"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/03/29/watch-live-country-music-hall-fame-inductees-revealed/82364774/ |author=Cindy Watts |title=Randy Travis, Charlie Daniels, Fred Foster to be inducted to Country Music Hall of Fame |newspaper=[[The Tennessean]] |date=March 29, 2016 |access-date=March 29, 2016}}</ref> The same year, he appeared in the music video for "[[Forever Country]]", a multi-artist medley of "[[Take Me Home, Country Roads]]", "[[On the Road Again (Willie Nelson song)|On the Road Again]]", and "[[I Will Always Love You]]" done to honor the 50th anniversary of the Country Music Association.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/scenes-cmas-historic-music-video-featuring-30-country/story?id=42129062 |title=30 Country Music Stars Join Forces for Historic CMA Music Video |date=September 22, 2016 |publisher=ABC News |access-date=September 29, 2019}}</ref> Although he had begun appearing in public again at this point, his speech remained limited and he was confined to a wheelchair.<ref name="damaged"/> Despite the limitations, Travis appeared onstage with singer [[Michael Ray (singer)|Michael Ray]] during a cover performance of "Forever and Ever, Amen" in June 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://people.com/country/randy-travis-cma-fest-2017-michael-ray/ |title=Without Words, Randy Travis Makes Fans' Dreams Come True |last=Kruh |first=Nancy |date=June 2017 |work=People Country |access-date=January 26, 2019}}</ref> He did the same during his 60th birthday party, hosted by the Grand Ole Opry on May 4, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://tasteofcountry.com/randy-travis-60th-grand-ole-opry/ |title=Randy Travis Celebrates 60th Birthday at Grand Ole Opry |author=Wendy Hermanson |website=Taste of Country |date=May 5, 2019 |access-date=September 29, 2019}}</ref>