Before Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney, the reigning king of country was Randy Travis. The star’s deep voice, traditional sound and heartfelt lyrics catapulted him to the top of the charts with seven No. 1 singles in the late 1980s.

Lately, Travis has been focusing his energy toward his cinematic career, with turns in National Treasure: Book of Secrets and the Christian movie The Wager. Travis’s faith has long been a driving force behind his work in both film and music, and all of his albums in the past 10 years have been religious in nature. His latest record, Around the Bend, is a return to the mainstream country he has long perfected—though, of course, the meaning of life isn’t far from his mind.

New songs like “Dig Two Graves” continue in the vein of previous hits like “Three Wooden Crosses” and “Forever and Ever Amen” by combining non-secular lyrics with melodies people of all stripes can hum along to.

Country fans of all creeds will likely enjoy Travis’s latest tour, which will combine new tracks with old favorites for a truly classic honky tonk concert.

Randy Travis appears at Texas Station October 17 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $22.50, $28.50, $37.50 and $47.50.

By Caitlin McGarry

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