RANDY Travis' divorce with ex-wife Elizabeth Hatcher is considered to be one of the "nastiest splits in the industry."
The pair had been married for almost two decades before their separation.
Who is Randy Travis' ex-wife Elizabeth Hatcher?
Elizabeth Hatcher and Randy Travis were married in 1991, but the two met when Travis was 17.
At the time, he won a talent contest at a Charlotte, North Carolina club owned by his future wife, according to Country Thang Daily.
After the two got married, Hatcher acted as Travis' manager for 30 years before their relationship fell apart.
They kept their relationship a secret for 12 years for business reasons. “He was young, and you want to attract that young audience,” she said. “I wanted him to appear available.”
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Travis once cited music as the thing that brought the two together.
“Of course, to start with, the music brought us together,” he told People magazine shortly after tying the knot. “And just being around each other, working with each other … it just grew from that. She is energetic, witty, intelligent, and very kind-hearted.”
Travis reportedly filed for divorce in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on 28 October 2010.
In the wake of their divorce, the pair filed a series of law suits against one another.
The singer then married Mary Travis in March 2015 amid his health complications.
According to Today, Mary stood beside Travis during his hospital stay, reportedly asking the doctors to keep him on life support.
Mary said: “Even in his state, his semi-coma state, he squeezed my hand and he laid there and I just saw this tear that fell and it was one tear at a time... I just went back to the doctors and I said, ‘We’re fighting this.’”
What happened to country singer Randy Travis?
Born May 4, 1959, Travis, 62, is known as an American country music and gospel music singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor.
Despite a successful music career, Travis has not released any new albums since 2014 partially due to serious health complications he has suffered from over the years.
The country singer famously suffered a massive stroke in 2013 after struggling from congestive heart failure.
He spent most of his time in Tennessee and Texas hospitals and underwent two brain surgeries as a result.
Travis also suffered from pneumonia on three separate occasions and was intubated.
By November 2014 he recovered slightly and was able to walk short distances and play guitar.
Does Randy Travis still play music?
In 2016, Travis made a comeback in music and performed Amazing Grace at the Country Music Hall of Fame and then reappeared on stage with Michael Ray during a cover performance of Forever And Ever Amen.
In September 2019 he then returned to touring with James Dupré in a 12-city production, however, Travis was only able to do three of the shows after there were unexpected production and technical problems.
He released a new song in 2020 titled Fools Love Affair, which marked his first song since suffering the stroke.
According to Country Daily, Travis still suffers from aphasia - a difficulty with language or speech - but his wife, Mary Travis, says that he still sometimes sings.
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Doctors noted that his distinct baritone was untouched by his medical issues.
Travis first topped the US Country charts in 1986 with On The Other Hand.
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