What happened between Randy Travis and his first wife? Relationships explored as singer releases new song

Country star Randy Travis has a treat for his fans this Christmas season. After losing much of his vocal abilities after a near-fatal stroke in 2013, Travis has reportedly 'discovered' a host of recordings from before his health crisis. In a conversation with FOX Digital, the country star's second wife, Mary, revealed their decision to use AI to bolster the production of previously lost recordings. She said,

“It's been a while since he's had a Christmas album. We didn't know where we were going to be as far as farther down the road than we ever expected after the stroke 12 and a half years ago. And Christmas is something that's, well, it's a sweet time of the year for so many.”

Travis suffered a massive stroke due to complications with congestive heart failure in 2013, reportedly leaving him with only a 1% chance of surviving. The ailment came a year after his legal spat with estranged first wife cum manager, Elizabeth, ended. The two were married for 19 years before they called it quits.

Randy Travis and his first wife

According to a 1991 PEOPLE Magazine story, Randy Travis met his first wife in 1977, when he was 17 years old and she was 33. Mary Elizabeth Travis (nee. Hatcher) was a manager of a club in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the two struck an unexpected yet fast friendship. The two soon moved to Nashville in 1984 and began their relationship, albeit keeping it under wraps. Continuing their conversation from the 1991 PEOPLE Magazine piece, Elizabeth said,

“He was young, and you want to attract that young audience. I wanted him to appear available.”

However, the couple soon revealed their love story to the world when rumors of Randy's alleged homosexuality rocked the country music scene of the time. The couple married in 1991 but never publicly addressed their 16-year age gap. Travis reportedly said,

“I was uncomfortable talking about it, but I've learned to deal with it and not worry about it.”

However, in 2010, the couple decided to end their relationship. Elizabeth, or 'Lib' as she is fondly known, claimed the country singer and his attorneys terminated her without a written notice and 'hauled away' computers, documents, and memorabilia from her Nashville office.

Travis, on the other hand, countersued Lib for 'disclosing personal information' and even 'cheating him out of his money' by reportedly overinflating her travel expenses. Country music publication Country Thang Daily even reported their divorce as the 'Nastiest Divorce in Industry'.

Randy Travis went on tie the knot with Mary, whom knew for 30 years before marrying in 2015. In a 2019 interview with PEOPLE Magazine, Mary said,

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“In his silence, he can make me feel like a princess. I feel so blessed to get to walk beside him through this.”

Travis's Christmas number Where My Heart Is has been received overwhelmingly by his fans.

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