Randy Travis debuted his first new studio recording in more than a decade on Friday (May 3).
“Where That Came From” marks Travis’ first song to release since he suffered a stroke in 2013 that left him with a 2% chance of survival and damage to the part of his brain that controls speech and language. Cris Lacy, Co-Chair and Co-President of Warner Music Nashville said, via CBS News Sunday Morning, that although there’s “so much chatter about all the negative sides of AI [Artificial Intelligence]. We started with this concept of ‘What would AI … look like for us?’ And the first thing that came to mind … was we would give Randy Travis his voice back.”
CBS News Sunday Morning’s Lee Cowan also spoke with Travis and his wife Mary, plus the beloved country star’s longtime producer Kyle Lehning, who said “him [Travis] being here and him being able to be, you know, a vital part of the decision-making process makes all the difference to me.” The full story will air on Sunday (May 5) at 9 a.m. ET on CBS and streaming Paramount+, per a CBS News press release issued on Friday.
The legendary country artist, 64, admitted that 11 years ago, he “never thought I would be able to have a hand in music production of any kind, but by God’s grace and the support of family, friends, fellow artists, and fans, I’m able to create the music I so dearly love,” reads his Instagram caption with a clip of “Where That Came From.” He added that reuniting with his previous label “has been so special and nostalgic, and I’m so excited to share my new song ‘Where That Came From’ with you today. Many thanks to my wonderful team and the best fans in the world for putting me back in the saddle again! I’ve enjoyed every moment of it.”
Travis announced “Where That Came From” earlier this week. He’d shared some teasers that garnered comments from fans and others in the country music community, including Zac Brown Band frontman Zac Brown, Carrie Underwood, Nate Smith, Lainey Wilson, Cole Swindell, Alexandra Kay, Clay Walker, Drake Milligan and many others. Some posted videos of their reactions to hearing the song for the first time, including Cody Johnson, Chase Matthew and Josh Turner. Travis also shared a glimpse of the “emotional and exciting” moment he shared the ballad with his family: “To hear that familiar voice again filled their hearts with happiness and their eyes with tears.”
“It’s been a while since my last new recording, but I’m excited to share that this Friday, May 3, I will be releasing my first brand new studio recording in more than a decade, ‘Where That Came From,’” Travis announced earlier this week. “You’ll hear much more about the special team of folks who came together to help make this magical moment in my career possible in the coming week. In the meantime, just know that when it comes to me singing songs for you, there’s always more where that came from. Thank you for singing along all these years.”
Listen to “Where That Came From” here: