The Union County Board of Commissioners presented Randy Travis with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Randy Travis Music Festival in downtown Marshville on Saturday, Sept. 19.
Commissioners gave the 67-year-old Marshville native the honor at 6:40 p.m. during the festival, which the Marshville Chamber of Commerce organizes each year, according to Backstage Country.
The award recognized Travis' career, his contributions to country music and the pride he has brought to his hometown and Union County, according to a county press release.
Board Chair Brian Helms said in the press release that Marshville and Union County will always be where Travis' story began, and that the county is proud to recognize his legacy and call him one of its own.
Born Randy Bruce Traywick in Marshville in 1959, Travis began performing locally at a young age. His 1986 album "Storms of Life" launched a career that included 23 No. 1 singles and more than 25 million records sold, according to the county.
The list of honors is long. His awards include seven Grammy Awards, 11 Academy of Country Music statuettes, 10 American Music Awards, eight Dove Awards, five Country Music Association awards, two People's Choice awards and seven Music City News awards. Travis joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1986 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016.
Commissioner Clancy Baucom, who represents the Marshville area, said the award carries meaning beyond another trophy.
"To some, this award may seem like just another on the shelf for Mr. Travis, but it's much more than that," Baucom said in the press release. "It recognizes that through all his extraordinary accomplishments over the last four decades, his home community and Union County have always supported him."
A near-fatal stroke in 2013 left Travis with aphasia, limiting his ability to sing and speak. With help from his wife, Mary, and physical therapy, he has continued to make improvements, the county said. He remains involved in the annual Marshville festival, where aspiring country singers cover his hits.
Travis now lives in Nashville. He returned to Marshville for the Sept. 19 festival, which ran from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and featured live music, a car show, a dessert contest, a kids' zone and a free meet-and-greet with Travis downtown.
His first collection of all-new material in more than 18 years, an album called "Same Old Way," is set for release Nov. 13, Backstage Country reported. Producer Kyle Lehning found the tracks, recorded between 1986 and 2013, in the vault and remixed them with Travis' input.
