Randy Travis' Unbelievable Journey: What Kept Him Going?

Country music legend Randy Travis could not have recovered from his stroke without the grace of God, according to his wife, Mary Travis. “Randy was determined. I don't know what he was thinking in his mind because he was in a coma a lot of the time and the aphasia took place immediately after the stroke … so he wasn't able to verbalize,” Mary, 68, exclusively shared with Us Weekly at CMA Fest presented by SoFi on Friday, June 5. “I asked him later. I said, 'Did you talk to God a lot? Did you pray a lot in your silence as you were lying there?' And he said, 'Yeah, all the time.’” In July 2013, Randy’s life changed forever when he suffered a stroke. When looking back on the health scare, Mary said her husband had only a one or two percent chance of survival. After more than five months in the hospital — where “every day was a new challenge,” according to Mary — Randy, now 67, was able to defy the odds and go home.

“I think the biggest accomplishment was just getting to go home,” Mary shared with Us while celebrating the 40th anniversary of Randy’s debut multiplatinum album called Storms of Life. “We went home the week before Thanksgiving, which was absolutely precious to us. We got to spend that with the family and his horses and just getting to start life all over again, going down a new highway as it was and here we are — 13 years later.”

Mary added, “It still brings a tear to my eye when I think about how blessed I am and how wonderful it's been and the smile on his face and the joy in his heart.” During CMA Fest, Randy and his wife attended several events to commemorate the milestone of Storms of Life. Although Randy is unable to speak after his stroke, those closest to him continue to marvel over his positive attitude and love for life. “I question all the time how people get through those times in life that are really out of our control, and we know that there is a creator in charge,” Mary shared. “I know that [God] had Randy right in the palm of his hand, and interestingly enough, the last song Randy recorded before his stroke was called ‘More Life.’ … It was almost a God wink. I leaned on that song; I leaned on the Lord 25 hours a day while we were in that hospital.”

While life may look different for Randy and Mary after surviving a “storm in life,” they continue to surround themselves with music and the people who love them most. Randy’s band remains on the road with the couple, and Mary said she knows “the good Lord is watching over us every step of the way.”

By the end of the year, country music fans may be able to hear a brand-new album from Randy. “We have one. It is from the vault,” Mary teased. “It's all music that Randy sang before his stroke, and it's music that hasn't ever been on an album before. You will hear that later in the year — this year. It's ready to go.” She continued, “There's nothing more in the world that Randy would rather do than be up on that stage singing with his own voice, and God knows the world misses this voice more than anything. … There will never be another one like it.”