Editing Randy Travis (section)

===1985{{ndash}}1986: ''Storms of Life''===
Travis signed with Warner Nashville in early 1985. His first contract with them resulted in the recording of four songs: "Prairie Rose", "[[On the Other Hand]]", "Carrying Fire", and "Reasons I Cheat". "Prairie Rose" appeared on the soundtrack of the 1985 film ''[[Rustlers' Rhapsody]]''.{{Sfn|Cusic|1990|pages=74-75}} [[Keith Whitley]] also recorded "On the Other Hand" for his 1985 debut album ''[[L.A. to Miami]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/la-to-miami-mw0000192307 | title=''L.A. to Miami'' | publisher=AllMusic | accessdate=January 18, 2024 | author=Al Campbell}}</ref> These four songs were all recorded in the same session, with Stegall and [[Kyle Lehning]] co-producing. At the time, Lehning was best known for producing [[Dan Seals]] and had also worked with Stegall on his own singles for [[Epic Records]]. Although Lehning did not want to work with Travis at first, he chose to do so after Monk and Sharp encouraged him.{{Sfn|Cusic|1990|pages=74, 75}} After recording these songs, Travis appeared on ''Nashville Now'' again on May 17, 1985, where he performed with [[Johnny Russell (singer)|Johnny Russell]] and [[Lorrie Morgan]].{{Sfn|Cusic|1990|page=77}} Warner also included him among the performers at their talent showcase at the Fan Fair (now [[CMA Music Festival]]) in downtown Nashville in mid-1985.{{Sfn|Cusic|1990|pages=80, 81}} Warner released "On the Other Hand" in August 1985, and it peaked at number 67 on the ''Billboard'' country charts.{{Sfn|Cusic|1990|page=81}} The follow-up "[[1982 (Randy Travis song)|1982]]" peaked at number six on the country charts in early 1986,{{sfn|Whitburn|2017|pages=365, 366}} thus becoming Travis's first hit single.{{Sfn|Cusic|1990|pages=82-83}} Following the success of "1982", Travis was booked as an opening act for [[Barbara Mandrell]] and [[T. G. Sheppard]], leading to both Travis and Hatcher quitting the Palace.{{Sfn|Cusic|1990|pages=83–85}} The song's success also led to him performing on the [[Grand Ole Opry]] for the first time in March 1986.{{Sfn|Cusic|1990|page=86}} He also received an award for Top New Male Vocalist from the [[Academy of Country Music]] (ACM).<ref name="acm">{{cite web | url=https://www.acmcountry.com/winners?awardTitle=randy+travis&awardCategory=&awardYear=&actionButton=Submit | title=Search results for Randy Travis | publisher=[[Academy of Country Music]] | accessdate=January 18, 2024}}</ref> This was followed by further opening act gigs throughout early 1986, which resulted in gigs from [[California]] to [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. Hatcher and Travis bought a former [[multi-stop truck|bread truck]] which they converted to a [[tour bus]], in addition to hiring a five-piece band to perform with him.{{Sfn|Cusic|1990|page=93}}

[[File:Don Schlitz, January 2024.jpg|thumb|right|Don Schlitz co-wrote Travis's singles "On the Other Hand", "Forever and Ever, Amen", and "Deeper Than the Holler".|alt=A head shot of singer-songwriter Don Schlitz]]

After "1982" became Travis's first top-ten hit, Warner executives chose to re-release "On the Other Hand". Nick Hunter, who promoted singles to country radio for Warner, noted that the song was popular in sales and listener demand despite its initially low chart peak.{{Sfn|Cusic|1990|page=97}} Upon re-release, "On the Other Hand" became his first number-one single on the ''Billboard'' country charts in July 1986.{{Sfn|Cusic|1990|pages=97–99}} "On the Other Hand" and "1982" were both included on Travis's debut album for Warner, ''[[Storms of Life]]''.<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/randy-travis-mn0000396676#biography | title=Randy Travis biography | publisher=[[AllMusic]] | accessdate=December 14, 2023 | author=[[Brian Mansfield]]}}</ref> The album was released on June 2, 1986, and sold over 100,000 copies in its first sales week in addition to reaching number one on [[Top Country Albums]].{{Sfn|Cusic|1990|page=98}} Six years after its release, the album was [[music recording certification|certified triple platinum]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA), honoring U.S. sales of three million copies.<ref name="riaa">{{cite web | url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=randy+travis#search_section | title=Search results for Randy Travis | publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]] | accessdate=January 18, 2024}}</ref> One of the tracks, Travis's own composition "Send My Body", had previously appeared on the Randy Ray album in 1982.{{Sfn|Cusic|1990|page=99}} Lehning and Stegall co-produced the album; they also contributed on keyboard and guitar, respectively. Other musicians on the project included drummers [[Eddie Bayers]], [[Larrie Londin]], and [[James Stroud]]; guitarist [[Larry Byrom]]; [[Dobro]] player [[Jerry Douglas]]; bassist [[David Hungate]]; and backing vocals from Lehning, [[Baillie & the Boys]], [[Paul Davis (singer)|Paul Davis]], and [[Paul Overstreet]].<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Storms of Life |title-link=Storms of Life |others=Randy Travis |date=1986 |type=CD booklet |publisher=Warner Bros. Records |id=9 25435-2}}</ref> The album produced another number-one in "[[Diggin' Up Bones]]" in late 1986, and a number two single in "[[No Place Like Home (Randy Travis song)|No Place Like Home]]" in early 1987. Overstreet wrote "On the Other Hand" with [[Don Schlitz]], "Diggin' Up Bones" with [[Nat Stuckey]], and "No Place Like Home" by himself.{{sfn|Whitburn|2017|pages=365, 366}} The latter was also Travis's first single to be promoted through a [[music video]].{{Sfn|Cusic|1990|pages=116-117}}

In late 1986, Travis was asked to host the [[Country Music Association]] (CMA) Awards telecast to replace original host [[Ricky Skaggs]], who had to back out after his son was hospitalized with a neck injury.{{Sfn|Cusic|1990|pages=109, 110}} Travis won the Horizon Award (now called Best New Artist) at that ceremony, while also receiving a nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year. Additionally, "On the Other Hand" was nominated for Single of the Year and ''Storms of Life'' for Album of the Year.<ref name="cma">{{cite web | url=https://cmaawards.com/past-winners-and-nominees/?appSession=0OVG7FF72A0TYM7Y25BPF10171I0SH4B601JC3381UE0R895D3W16S3BC9OZ54F09K0748KLAGDOX46KGP6756ENO2UL32W6639L9WXEF138H37I4GD7DNLU863ORX5S | title=Search results for Randy Travis | publisher=[[Country Music Association]] | accessdate=January 18, 2024}}</ref> On November 15, 1986, Travis performed a concert with [[George Jones]] and [[Patty Loveless]] in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Charlotte's then-mayor [[Harvey Gantt]] declared November 15 to be "Randy Travis Day". A similar acknowledgement was passed as a city ordinanace in Travis's hometown of Marshville soon afterward.{{Sfn|Cusic|1990|page=112}} Warner also issued a Christmas single in December 1986 titled "White Christmas Makes Me Blue", which sold over 79,000 copies.{{Sfn|Cusic|1990|page=114}} By year's end, Skaggs had inducted Travis into the Grand Ole Opry.{{Sfn|Cusic|1990|page=115}} "Diggin' Up Bones" also accounted for Travis's first [[Grammy Award]] nomination, in the category of [[Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance|Best Male Country Vocal Performance]], in early 1987.{{Sfn|Cusic|1990|pages=121, 122}}<ref name="grammy">{{cite web | url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/randy-travis/10366 | title=Randy Travis artist page | publisher=[[Grammy Awards]] | accessdate=January 18, 2024}}</ref>

''Storms of Life'' received critical favor. Mark A. Humphrey of [[AllMusic]] wrote that Travis had "astonishing [[Lefty Frizzell]]-style pipes, excellent material, and sympathetic production".<ref name="storms of life">{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/storms-of-life-mw0000196112 | title=''Storms of Life'' review | publisher=AllMusic | accessdate=January 18, 2024 | author=Mark A. Humphrey}}</ref> An uncredited review in ''Billboard'' also described Travis's voice with favor, additionally stating that " He has the material{{emdash}}introspective lyrics and gorgeous melodies{{emdash}}and the understated, classic country production here to make the most of his gifts."<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1986/BB-1986-06-14.pdf | title=Reviews | magazine=Billboard | page=72 | date=June 14, 1986}}</ref> Writing for the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', Jack Hurst also compared Travis's voice favorably to both Frizzell and [[Merle Haggard]], while also praising the lyrics of the singles in particular.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/162953480/ | title=In review | work=[[Chicago Tribune]] | date=August 24, 1986 | accessdate=January 19, 2024 | pages=22, 23}}</ref>