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Forever and Ever, Amen

A Memoir of Music, Faith, and Braving the Storms of Life

Audiobook (Includes supplementary content)
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

A riveting tale of

  • unfathomable success
  • great joy
  • deep pain, and
  • redemption that can come only from above.
  • From a working-class background in North Carolina to a job as a cook and club singer in Nashville to his "overnight success" with his smash 1986 album Storms of Life—which launched the neotraditional movement in country music—Randy's first three decades are a true rags-to-riches story. But in 2009, this seemingly charmed life began a downward spiral. His marriage dissolved, he discovered that his finances had unraveled, and his struggles with anger led to alcohol abuse, public embarrassment, and even police arrest in 2012.

    Then, just as he was putting his life back together, Randy suffered a devastating viral cardiomyopathy that led to a massive stroke which he was not expected to survive. Yet he not only survived but also learned to walk again and, in 2016, accepted his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame by singing the hymn that explains his life today: "Amazing Grace."

    Filled with never-before-told stories, Forever and Ever, Amen is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at dizzying success and the miraculous road to restoration.

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      • AudioFile Magazine
        Randy Travis may have lost his ability to sing (he suffered a life-threatening stroke in 2013), but his voice as a writer comes through loud and clear in this deeply engaging autobiography on audio. Fellow country singer Rory Feek echoes Travis's twang as he confidently narrates the story of a talented and resilient man who overcame a difficult upbringing to achieve remarkable success. Adding to the authenticity of the performance, Feek shares unscripted reflections about what Travis's music has meant to his own life and career. Feek's gentle and charming style is perfectly suited to the humility and vulnerability that come through as Travis opens up about his struggles with alcoholism. This is a beautifully told story of a remarkable life in music. D.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
      • Publisher's Weekly

        April 15, 2019
        Travis, country music Hall of Fame inductee, candidly traces his ascent to the heights of country music fame, his alcohol abuse, and his brush with death after a stroke in this down-to-earth debut. After winning a talent show in his native North Carolina in 1975, Travis headed to Nashville with Lib Hatcher, a club owner who recognized his talent, took him under her wing, and later became his wife and manager. Travis played around Nahsville and was discovered by country star Little Jimmy Dickens, who invited him to sing with him at the Grand Ole Opry. After a few lean years, Travis broke through with the 1986 album Storms of Life, and he quickly became a country music superstar. Starting in 2010, Travis suffered a series of personal setbacks, including a high-profile, contentious divorce; the revelation of poor financial management under Lib’s watch; a DUI arrest in 2012; and a stroke that almost killed him. After his stroke, Travis could no longer perform, but he writes of how his love of music stayed strong, and how he emerged with a renewed faith in God and love for others: “More than ever, I know my life is a gift. My future plans are simple. I’m going to love God forever. I’m going to love my friends and family forever.” Humble and inspiring, Travis tells a powerful story of his struggles and successes in this entertaining memoir.

      • Booklist

        May 1, 2019
        Travis (born Randy Traywick) grew up listening to traditional country music, the son of a troubled father who turned violent when drunk and a good-natured mother who kept the family together. At first, Travis performed with his older brother, Ricky, before going on his own after Ricky went to prison. Travis admits that as teenagers, he and his brother were troublemakers, viewed as following in Daddy's footsteps. In this as told to memoir, Travis says he was rescued by an older woman who was his boss, then his manager, and then his wife until a difficult divorce. If not for her, he explains, he might have lived a life of petty crime and ended up wallowing in obscurity. Travis' music was initially turned down by the Nashville music establishment as being too country, yet at 27 he was installed as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Travis writes honestly about his ups and downs as well as his serious health problems and closes on a hopeful note. For Travis' many fans and all who love country music.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)

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    Languages

    • English

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