Randy Travis Has a New Song. And No, It’s Not AI
The reason the Randy Travis stroke in 2013 was so tragic is because it took one of the greatest country music singing voices in history from us. Travis came from an era where being an incredible singer wasn’t just an asset, it was a prerequisite to singing country music. And even in that more vaunted era of the ’80s and ’90s, Travis was still one of the most gifted and cherished singers in the genre.
Travis stirred some controversy when he became one of the first major American music artists to use AI to create new music with his song “Where That Came From” released in May of 2024. In an ideal world, something like AI could be used to help bring back the voice of Randy Travis who is still around to sign off on any such endeavor, and can’t sing for himself. That’s one of the potential bright spots of the technology.
It’s the slippery slope such an enterprise sends us down that is most concerning—a path that has already seen AI slop top Billboard’s Country Digital Songs Sales Chart.
But Randy’s new song has nothing to do with AI. Taken from the archives of recordings captured before his 2013 stroke, “Where My Heart Is” is a Christmas song that perfect for the impending season. But most importantly, it’s a splendid example of Randy’s incredible voice so sadly taken from us too early.
We knew there was more Randy Travis music from before his stroke sitting in the archives. When Randy’s wife Mary was pressed about the prospects of another unheard Randy Travis album seeing the light of day back in 2023, she responded, “The chances are 100%. It has already been mixed. Everything’s ready to go by Kyle Lehning, Randy’s producer….a whole other album of Randy Travis music.”
Randy Travis also released two Christmas albums in his career, 1989’s An Old Time Christmas, and 2007’s Songs of the Season. It only stands to reason there might be a song or two left over from those sessions. Strangely, “Where My Heart Is” doesn’t come with any information on who wrote it, or when it was recorded. Perhaps they don’t know.
A Christmas song from Randy Travis really underscores the importance of being grateful for what we have, and a poignant reminder that it can be taken from us at any time. “It’s a reminder of the blessings of yesteryear and the hope of tomorrow,” Randy and his wife Mary say.
Keep your eyes out for Saving Country Music’s annual Holiday playlist that will premier shortly after Thanksgiving. It’s sure to include “Where My Heart Is.”
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November 23, 2025 @ 5:24 pm
Thanks for the info Trigger, I assumed it was an AI song that he did, I’m fine with that from him if it is authorized , but nice to see that this is pre-stroke. We saw him last month with his original band in Morristown, NJ, it was a really great show, wasnt sure how it was going to be , but was really entertaining. James Dupre’ did a great job singing like Randy with him giving his approval sitting on stage with his wife.
So glad he is so engaged still after his rehabilitating stroke, gives us all reason and encouragement to keep on keepin’ on!
November 23, 2025 @ 8:28 pm
I absolutely have no issue with Randy Travis using A I and he is using it to express his own talent. This allows him to create music & he & his wife to say yes or no to a song and they are in the studio as it’s being created. I think there is a line drawn in the sand and that line is a singer who is deceased. That person is unable to be there in person & contribute or give their imput.
November 24, 2025 @ 11:00 am
Regardless of whether or not he’s in the studio while the song is being “recorded,” there’s no expression of art with Ai. Randy may need the money, but it’s still a facsimile. The fact that whomever is running Randy’s social media (I’m guessing his wife) refuses to admit when a “new” track is Ai when asked, is proof they know it’s bullshit.
Once Ai Armageddon wipes out all true creativity, people will long for the old days of real.
November 25, 2025 @ 4:53 pm
I am from Monroe NC 18 minutes away from Marshville NC where randy was born and raised and where there is a randy Travis festival every year. He comes and NO MATTER HOW HE SINGS HE IS STILL RANDY TRAYWICK to all of us. You are a sad sad person to attack Randy so viciously. I hope you never have a stroke it is terribly debilitating for the entire family, community and friends. I also hope no one you love ever has a stroke because it breaks your heart when they do not completely recover. Randy is so loved across the country, and I say you just have to let small people be small people like Jimmy ^.
November 24, 2025 @ 2:36 am
A Christmas song? Shouldn’t have even bother covering 🤣🤣🤣
November 24, 2025 @ 7:19 am
Happy that Randy put out a new (non-AI) song.Hopefully he’s well enough to return to singing because his was one of Country’s most authentic voices.
November 24, 2025 @ 9:27 am
Great to hear his voice again. I always recall the first time I heard him. I was half falling asleep after a day at work when Randy Travis live in concert was played on the Radio…….it woke me up, made me sit up and listen. One of the truly great voices in Country music. I would rather hear his old music than AI.
November 24, 2025 @ 4:21 pm
It is so great to hear Randy Travis singing again. What a great voice we are missing. I love the country song.
November 24, 2025 @ 11:29 am
Considering Travis’ lengthy career, I find it strange that there hasn’t been any noteable releases of leftover material. Legal disputes, perhaps?
As for his idol Haggard’s vault of 400+ songs… next year marks the tenth year since Haggard’s death, and not a single song in sight. His family seems to be totally absent from the scene.
I blame the real hag, and it’s not Merle.
November 24, 2025 @ 5:40 pm
“Strangely, “Where My Heart Is” doesn’t come with any information on who wrote it, or when it was recorded. Perhaps they don’t know.”
If they “don’t know” when it was recorded, then it’s probablly AI.
Randy Travis was not a guy who went recording his own music in his home studio or at some friends. And they certainly know who wrote it. Or they would find out before releasing it.
Though back in 2009 not long after Michael Jackson died, Sony Records released a posthumous single from some unfinished recording, called “This is It,” which they said Jackson wrote. Right after they released it, they got a call from Paul Anka (or his lawyer) saying that the song was a co-write from a session between Jackson and Anka. It was for some duets project that was never finished. Anka had all the proof–the session notes and other recordings of the song, some with Anka’s vocals. The Jackson estate and Sony immediately added Anka’s name to the song credit.
November 24, 2025 @ 6:24 pm
It’s not AI. They’ve already released Randy Travis AI songs. Why would they lie now?
November 24, 2025 @ 6:48 pm
I interviewed Kyle Lehning (Randy’s producer) numerous times for Randy’s biography, RANDY TRAVIS: STORMS OF LIFE, and there are many stories in the book about the effort they put into recording quality songs. They usually recorded 15 or so for each album. Those that didn’t get released went into the vault. A few were later added to albums, and a few have been released individually. There are many still in the vault. By 2015, Kyle had selected and remixed enough songs to release a new album. Warner Records ran into problems in tracking down ownership of some songs, mostly because of sales of record labels. I don’t know the current status. It would be wonderful to be able to hear all of them.
November 25, 2025 @ 5:28 pm
I love ‘Where That Cane From’. I think it’s a really poignant composition and the AI performance is excellent. I’m hoping for an album of AI Randy songs. It’s a good way of not letting that awful stroke defeat him and his passion.
November 27, 2025 @ 6:24 pm
Regarding authorship of the song, yes, it’s odd that even on Spotify and other streaming platforms, the songwriter and producer sections are left blank.
Through my own research, I’ve found that a song called “Where My Heart Is” was registered at some point, with authorship attributed to two writers, “R Travis” and “R Avis.” I’m guessing the latter is Ron Avis, Randy’s bus driver who was also a songwriter.
When Ron died in 2023, Randy paid tribute to him in this socials post:
https://www.facebook.com/randytravis/posts/i-wish-it-would-rain-is-a-song-on-my-full-circle-album-the-song-begs-the-rain-to/734216731401120/