Country music legend Randy Travis and his wife, Mary, recently spoke to Fox News Digital about the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI), which has enabled Travis to sing again after suffering a debilitating stroke in 2013.
Country music icon Randy Travis and his devoted wife, Mary, are still in awe of the miraculous impact of artificial intelligence (AI), which has given him back his voice after he suffered a major stroke in 2013.
Speaking exclusively to Fox News Digital on the red carpet of the recent Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, Mary revealed the overwhelming emotions she experienced upon first hearing the AI-recreated version of Randy's voice. "When I first heard it, I couldn't hear much because I was crying so hard," she admitted. "When Randy watched it, it was beautiful. I watched him go from listening real intently to this pensive emotion to a smile and then an all-out laughter. It was just an overwhelming feeling to hear his voice and a new song because he had heard his own voice so many times with the old songs, but this one was a brand-new one. And so it was just beautiful."
Travis' stroke, resulting from viral cardiomyopathy stemming from a respiratory infection, left him with aphasia, severely impairing his ability to speak and sing. Mary often serves as his spokesperson, explaining to "CBS Sunday Morning" that he knows what he wants to say but struggles to articulate it.
However, thanks to the ingenuity of AI models, Travis' voice has been resurrected and used in a new song, "Where That Came From." "It's given Randy back the ability to make the music," Mary said, her arm tenderly resting on her husband's shoulder, "to do the things that he loved to do more than anything in the world. And if people could just imagine if their greatest passion was taken from them, what would you hope for? So, our hope and our prayer for 11 years was 'Please let us make music again,' right?"
Travis nodded in agreement as Mary continued, "And now that he can, it's been magical. We like to call it 'artistic intelligence' because to watch he and [record producer] Kyle [Lehning] work together, to make this song out of 42 song stems of his, with James Dupree laying down the [vocals], it was amazing to watch."
Mary emphasized the importance of using AI responsibly, stating, "We're hoping that AI will be used for good from now on and not pirated, not robbing from the artist."
Travis' return to music with "Where That Came From" marks a significant milestone in his recovery. "Eleven years ago, I never thought I would be able to have a hand in music production of any kind," Travis said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "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. Working with Kyle Lehning and Warner Music Nashville again has been so special and nostalgic, and I'm so excited to share my new song 'Where That Came From' with you today. Many thanks to my wonderful team and the best fans in the world for putting me back in the saddle again! I’ve enjoyed every moment of it."
Travis and Mary's appearance at the ACM Awards was a rare public outing for the country music legend. Travis said being at the show was "good," and Mary noted that it was a convenient visit from their home in Frisco, Texas. "Being at the ACMs, No. 1, in my hometown is nice, being raised here, and we live here, so it's nice that it's close to home," she said. "But there's just so much energy, there's so many great people here, and we're so happy that we get to be a part of the ACMs."
She added that Travis has a rich history at the award show, having earned 11 awards over the years, including two top male vocalist wins. "Randy has a history with them, and we took an 11-year sabbatical after the stroke, so it feels so good to be back; with Randy having a little bit of music out now, it gives it a whole new meaning," Mary said.
Travis also graced the stage at the show to present an award with fellow country singer Clay Walker, demonstrating his enduring legacy in the music industry.
