Randy Travis, country music icon, visits MS Governor’s Mansion

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Country music icon Randy Travis and his wife, Mary, paid a special visit to the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion on Thursday afternoon.

Active since 1979, Travis has recorded more than 20 studio albums and charted over 50 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, including 16 that reached the No. 1 position. Some of Travis’ most well-known songs include “On the Other Hand,” “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “I Told You So,” “Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart” and “Three Wooden Crosses.”

“Randy has inspired generations with his music and legacy,” the governor said on X, formerly Twitter. “I’m proud to welcome Randy and Mary [Travis] to the Magnolia State.”

According to WLBT, the country music star plans to invest some $5 million to the Metrocenter Mall in Jackson, MS. The plan is to transform the old Burlington Coat Factory into a Randy Travis Country Store and Randy Travis Travel Center. Plans for the transformation are being finalized, and could see work beginning as soon as 30 days. The Randy Travis Foundation charity is “dedicated to raising awareness for viral cardiomyopathy and providing arts and music enrichment for children.”

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to explain Travis’s visit to Jackson.