Longtime country music singer-songwriter Randy Travis is set to kick off another leg of his “More Life” tour. In January 2025, the seasoned artist will travel to multiple American cities for performances celebrating his top hits and multi-decade legacy in country music.
Concert-goers who attend “More Life” show dates are in for a unique experience featuring guest performers, exclusive video footage, and stories told by his wife, Mary, who assists Travis during his travels.
A Live Show Like No Other
The “More Life” tour is named after a 2022 documentary about Travis’s life and musical legacy.In 2013, the country musician suffered a life-altering stroke that left him unable to sing. Despite his health struggles, he never let his condition prevent him from living out his life’s purpose: connecting with people through the art of country music. Along with Mary, he came up with a one-of-a-kind approach for his future shows, which fans can experience while attending “More Life” tour dates.
Though the country music star can no longer provide vocals at his shows, he still takes the stage with Mary. The two sit in armchairs while singer James Dupré performs alongside Travis’ bandmates from his original lineup. Travis formed a special bond with Dupré when the two worked together on the 2015 film, “The Price.”
The movie follows the character Roy Taggert, played by Travis, as he attempts to reconnect with his long-lost son, played by Dupré. Both play musicians in the film. Travis was so impressed with Dupré’s vocals, that when he needed someone to step in for him on stage after his stroke, his former co-star was his first choice.
Each “More Life” concert features performances of top hits like “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “Three Wooden Crosses,” and “Deeper Than the Holler.” Shows also include special videos played during and between songs featuring behind the scenes footage of Travis, special moments across his career which has been going strong since 1979, and exclusive performance footage featuring his vocals from past concerts.
A Familial Bond for the Band
“They’ve been down many roads, driven so many miles and have so many memories. They’ve been together through thick and thin. Anytime, we called on the guys after Randy’s stroke, they were right there for him. ... There’s nothing that makes Randy happier than coming in and seeing these guys standing here supporting him.
She continued, and noted:
“I think [he] has the most incredible band that was ever put together. These guys are like brothers to Randy. They’ve been his road family, and we love them like family.”
“The ‘More Life’ tour celebrates something so much more than a musical moment in time. … It’s a gift to me to spend time with my fans, and my band, as James Dupré perfectly presents the songs that best define my career.”
Travis’s Fans Are the Melody to His Music
Since Travis suffered his stroke, Mary has taken on a more direct role in his career. She often speaks on his behalf, and during the “More Life” tour dates, she enjoys giving fans glimpses into their personal lives. During the concert at the Ryman, she emphasized Randy’s optimism as he copes with aphasia, a condition often accompanying a stroke that affects a person’s ability to speak. She said he’s remained positive through it all:“The things that have gotten us through what we’ve gone through are faith, family, friends, fans and having a lot of fun. …We all have our set of challenges. It’s not that you have them, but it’s how you get through them.”
Music has always been there to comfort Travis and his family through life’s ups and downs. Mary once described her husband’s voice as “God-given.” She shared his poetic view of songwriting by relating it to art, and saying, “Randy once told me, ‘Music is like a blank palette. You throw all you have at it to make it a song and hope it touches someone’s heart.’”
She also emphasized the listeners’ important role when it comes to the music her husband makes and shared another memory with the audience:
“Randy told me one time, ‘I just sing the words. The band makes the music, and the fans are melody to that music.’”
The 2025 leg of the “More Life” tour covers 23 states, with dates in cities like Tulsa, Oklahoma; Augusta, Georgia; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Arlington, Texas. The tour concludes on May 11, 2025, in Branson, Missouri.
