Thomas Nelson, a division of HarperCollins, announced the cover for the upcoming memoir by country music legend Randy Travis today in an exclusive with People.com. The book is available now for preorder on Amazon and other retailers.
In his long-awaited memoir, Forever and Ever, Amen: A Memoir of Music, Faith, and Braving the Storms of Life, Travis opens up for the first time, sharing the deeply personal stories of his life. From a troubled, working-class childhood in North Carolina to the Country Music Hall of Fame; from a broken marriage to a miraculous daily recovery from viral cardiomyopathy, flatlining, massive stroke and coma, Travis, with the help of best-selling author Ken Abraham, tells his story of perseverance and redemption from start to finish.
“I didn’t really feel I had a book to write until I stood on the distant shore and looked back over the ripples my life has made—on myself and on others. My songs were the stories of my life and I learned from those who listened, they were theirs too—my fans inspired me and continue to do so,” said Randy Travis.
With candid, never-before-told details, Travis recounts his troubled youth full of drinking and stealing cars, a tense relationship with his father, and the rollercoaster ride of more than 40 years in the music and acting industry. He also shares the highs that came after playing “Forever and Ever, Amen” for the first time; having 18 number one hits and selling more than 25 million albums; and most importantly, the faith that has seen him through all of it.
“I learned a lot about myself going back through the chronicles of my past. In my waning years of ability, I have a clearer picture of the past. It’s an interesting game of patience to sit and wait for the clocks of time to expose so much,” lamented Travis. “As the candle burns, it is time to share the history that made me who I am, tell the backstory to some of my songs, give insight to the challenges I faced, and reflect on the blessings through it all.”
Additionally, Randy Travis is currently using his ears to find the best tunes from the genre’s up-and-comers and curating a playlist to share with his fans and followers. According to his wife, Mary Davis-Travis, the move not only supports younger artists but also gives Travis a chance to be heard in a new way.
“Though Randy may not be able to perform right now, his love and affinity for music stands strong,” Davis-Travis said on her husband’s website. “We like to say he is ‘singing a new song’ and spending his time giving back to the community and supporting fellow artists — streaming is a great new outlet to do just that.” You can find his playlist, “Diggin up Songs” on Spotify.
For more information about Forever and Ever, Amen and Randy Travis, please visit www.RandyTravis.com or the official Randy Travis Facebook page.
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Bethany Bowman is an entertainer writer for The Tennessee Star. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
