Country music icon’s doctors told his wife he was dying. Here’s what happened next

Randy Travis continues to tour and release new songs despite the effects of a 2013 stroke. (Marisa Evans photo courtesy of the 117 Group)Marisa Evans/117 Group

Randy Travis lost his ability to sing following a massive stroke back in 2013, but the country music icon has found a way to still entertain and has been out touring.

And just last year we learned that Travis nearly lost a whole lot more than his singing ability back when his medical emergency took place.

His wife, Mary, revealed in an interview with Fox News Digital that doctors told her that she should “pull the plug” on him while he was out.

“I think Randy, there was never a doubt in Randy’s mind that he could make it through it,” she said. “It was that magical moment that I went to his bedside when they said, ‘We need to pull the plug. He’s got too many things going against him at that point.’ He had gotten a staph infection and three other hospital-born bacterial viruses like Serratia, Pseudomonas, one things after another, and the doctors were just saying, ‘He just doesn’t have the strength to get through this.’”

But Mary said that when doctors told her to say goodbye to her husband, he gave her a sign.

“That was the moment that I knew that Randy Travis was gonna make it because he squeezed my hand a tear went down his face,” she told Fox. “And I said, ‘He’s still fighting.’”

The 66-year-old made it, and he made headlines in 2024 after he found a way to use AI to continue to make music.

It has been a remarkable recovery because CBS News reported that Travis was given just a 2% chance of survival following his stroke.

Travis was actually on the road making some tour dates in 2025.