Latest news with #RandyTravis
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This Milton restaurant served their fan-favorite dish to Kid Rock, Randy Travis and more
Milton Southern cooking and seafood staple The Cutting Board served up a slice of home at country music star Jamey Johnson's star-studded Tennessee wedding May 20, with the help of some Pensacola area vendors. Owner Nan Foster was selected to plan and cater the wedding at Graystone Quarry in Franklin, Tennessee, for longtime friend and 'In Color' singer Johnson and his bride, Brittney Eakins. Foster and her husband, hometown cook Steve House-Gregory, even recreated a hit from their restaurant's menu called Seafood Sensation for a crowd of 350 packed with the big names of country music. Some of the guests included Kid Rock ('All Summer Long'), Randy Travis ('Forever and Ever, Amen'), Zac Brown ('Chicken Fried'), Lee Brice ('Hard to Love'), Gary Allan ('Watching Airplanes"), Ella Langley ('You look Like You Love Me,'), Riley Green ('There Was This Girl') and many more. Get to know The Cutting Board here: The Cutting Board reopens in new location, serving up seafood and Southern specialties There was one guest on the list who left a particularly big impression. 'Randy Travis is the greatest human,' Foster said. 'I mean, he is an incredible human who is gracious in spirit and just is always a pleasure to speak with.' Since the wedding was centered around Southern elegance, The Cutting Board's cuisine fit perfectly in the picture. They brought in highlight dishes from the Panhandle, delighting guests with regional favorites such as mini muffulettas, cups of Louisiana gumbo, and, of course, fresh, local seafood. Seafood Sensation, known at The Cutting Board as Andy's Sensation, was one of the first dishes she ever fed Johnson when they met many years ago. 'We knew going in that we would include that because that's one of his (Johnson's) favorite dishes,' Foster said. 'These guys want good, enjoyable food. It doesn't have to be fancy, it doesn't have to be over the top, it just has to be good.' For dessert, Foster had Johnson's beloved guitar replicated into cake form, with Mississippi-based vendor Cakes By Iris capturing every detail, even the guitar's scribbled signatures. Foster also looked locally for vendors to assist, with The Thirsty Ranch mobile beverage cart serving up his and her style cocktails of hand grenades and blueberry moonshine margaritas, and professional photos shot by Pensacola area photographer, Addie J Photography, that were featured in People Magazine. 'It's just a fantastic opportunity for local vendors to have the opportunity to go to something of this caliber. It gives us a great opportunity to showcase our town, our community, and the kind of people that we have,' Foster said. Foster said one of the highlights of the experience was sharing a piece of the Panhandle with the celebrity guests, some of whom even messaged her after the wedding, trying to get hold of her recipes. 'Absolutely not,' Foster teased about sharing them. She said the event was special not only for her business but also to draw attention to the Panhandle and show what it has to offer despite its small size. 'You never know when you meet someone if you're going to have an opportunity to bring a slice of your world into someone else's world,' Foster said. 'And for us, that's been the most unique experience is being afforded the opportunity to showcase our small-town Panhandle community into such a large world dynamic.' If you want to try the Seafood Sensation for yourself, you can order it from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday at The Cutting Board, 8855 State Road 87 S. in Milton. Foster can be reached at 850-516-0975 for questions or catering inquiries. Stay updated on the latest restaurant news by subscribing to our free Pensacola Eats newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign up for the newsletter at This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Jamey Johnson wedding planned and catered by Milton's The Cutting Board
Fox News
10-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Fox News AI Newsletter: Where US, China stand in AI race
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER: - OpenAI chief Sam Altman: US barely ahead of China in artificial intelligence arms race- Some companies have been adjusting their workforce as they embrace more AI, automation: report- Randy Travis stages stunning comeback with help from AI after devastating stroke AI ARMS RACE: OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman joined three other artificial intelligence (AI) and technology executives for a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on winning the global AI race and strengthening domestic capabilities in computing and innovation. EMBRACING AI: Some companies have been adjusting their workforce as they simultaneously embrace artificial intelligence and automation more, according to Forbes. NEW INVESTORS: OpenAI is shaking up its corporate structure to bring in new investors and accelerate the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI). OPINION: META MADNESS: Mark Zuckerberg went on a recent media tour to promote that Meta is seeking to transform its Meta AI chatbots into friends, under the guise of helping the very real loneliness epidemic. TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH: Randy Travis is leaning into artificial intelligence to continue to produce new music, over a decade after his near-fatal stroke. '90s NBA NOSTALGIA: The late Jim Fagan, whose iconic voice became synonymous with NBC programming in the '90s, will be part of NBA coverage going forward – thanks to artificial intelligence. 'NOTHING TO DO WITH IT': President Donald Trump responds to some controversy over an AI-generated image of him as the pope. FOLLOW FOX NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA FacebookInstagramYouTubeTwitterLinkedIn SIGN UP FOR OUR OTHER NEWSLETTERS Fox News FirstFox News OpinionFox News LifestyleFox News Health DOWNLOAD OUR APPS Fox NewsFox BusinessFox WeatherFox SportsTubi WATCH FOX NEWS ONLINE STREAM FOX NATION Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future with Fox News here.
Fox News
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Randy Travis stages stunning comeback with help from AI after devastating stroke
Randy Travis is leaning into artificial intelligence (AI) to continue to produce new music, over a decade after his near-fatal stroke. In 2013, Travis' stroke left him with aphasia – which is the loss of ability to understand or express speech. With the help of AI and country musician James Dupré, Travis was able to produce two new songs since his stroke, "Where That Came From" in 2024 and now his latest single, "Horses in Heaven." He has been on his "More Life Tour" since last spring and recently extended dates through fall 2025. Randy's wife, Mary Travis, joined him for an interview with Garden & Gun to explain how her husband used AI for new music. "People think you just plug it in a computer and it spits out a song and there's no creativity. That could not be farther from the truth. It took eleven months. In the time most people make an album, we did one song," she told the outlet. WATCH: Randy Travis and his wife Mary call AI 'magical' for giving him back his voice "Kyle Lehning, Randy's longtime producer, sent the raw vocals of about 45 of Randy's songs to London, where they were put into the model using a vocal line provided by country music singer James Dupré. They were able to pick the voice stems of Randy's songs and lay them over the vocal line. "When it came back from London, Kyle and Randy worked their magic in the studio to perfect the song, tweaking it to make sure that his tone, his inflections, everything was like what Randy would sing. When we finally heard the result, we knew it was worth it," Mary said. She added, "Hopefully it will set a precedent for what AI is used for." Thanks to AI, Travis was able to go back on tour. Dupré has been on tour with him, assisting as a special guest vocalist on the music legend's "More Life Tour," which kicked off last spring. When Garden & Gun asked Randy how excited he was about extending his tour, he smiled and said, "Just a lot. Yeah." Mary added, "He loves being with his fans. He loves the energy of the stage. People always ask if it's hard for him to hear his music played by somebody else. I think for some people it would be, but for Randy, he's like, No, I'm good with that. Music belongs to all of us." Mary told the outlet that AI has been "wonderful" for her husband. "In 2013, that was not anything we could have perceived on the horizon. AI has come up so fast and furiously. When we were approached by Cris Lacy at Warner about it, it was exciting. I wanted to hear that voice more than anything — I have for 12 years now. "Randy's always been very much a pioneer in music. When you think about the Toby Keith song, 'Don't Let the Old Man In,' that's Randy Travis. He's not letting the old man in. He's gonna keep thinking of what we can do to make a difference," she told the outlet. In 2023, Randy and Mary spoke with Fox News Digital about his condition ahead of a tribute concert, which also raised money for the Randy Travis Foundation. The foundation focuses on stroke and aphasia awareness and supporting music education in schools. "We want people to understand strokes, stroke rehabilitation, that there is life after stroke," Mary said at the time. "We did find that all of the rehab that we went through, life is the best rehab. Just get out there. Go do what you used to do. You know, the world may wonder why you're out here, but just go out there and, you know, dance like nobody's watching and sing like nobody's listening and just have a good time. It truly is the best therapy." Mary also cited her and Randy's faith for helping them work through recovery. "He's very faithful," she said. "We, you know, we leaned hard on God. It's been 10 years now since the stroke, and that's hard to believe. … There's really no words for it, and there's not a day that goes by that I just don't thank God for his grace and his mercy."
USA Today
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Randy Travis appears at Grammys on the Hill, wife credits AI song for 'whole new energy'
Randy Travis appears at Grammys on the Hill, wife credits AI song for 'whole new energy' Show Caption Hide Caption Who Holds The Record For The Most Grammy Wins Of All Time? Beyoncé holds the record for the most Grammy wins in history, with 32 awards. She cemented her status as one of the most successful artists in Grammy history. Georg Solti is next with 31 wins. unbranded - Entertainment WASHINGTON – Nearly 12 years ago, Randy Travis flatlined three times in the midst of a stroke. The debilitating effects of the medical trauma left him mostly unable to speak and walk. But the country singer whose career thrived from the '80s to the '00s with No. 1 hits including 'Diggin' Up Bones,' 'I Told You So' and 'Forever and Ever, Amen,' made an unexpected return to the charts in 2024 through the use of artificial intelligence. 'Where That Came From' was created using software to recreate Travis' distinctive twang and merge it with a 2011 recording of the song. On Tuesday, Travis was hailed as the 2025 Creators Leadership Award honoree at the annual Grammys on the Hill event, which pairs the music industry with Congress to advocate for artists' rights. The topic of AI – which also took the spotlight at last year's gathering – sparked conversation among musicians and producers including Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying, who hosted the event, singer/producer Kenyon Dixon and renowned producer/composer Giles Martin. But while most discussions focused on the negative aspects of AI – stealing the vocals, notes and likenesses of public figures without permission – Travis represents a productive use of the technology. With wife Mary Davis holding his arm, a bright-eyed Travis, who still struggles to walk and talk, said it felt 'wonderful' to be recognized while Davis expounded on Travis' return. 'It's so important for him to give back to music what music gave to him,' she said as the pair stood on the red carpet at The Hamilton in D.C. 'I wanted so bad to hear his voice again and when we had the opportunity, not only did I want to do it selfishly, but to see him at the soundboard working elbow to elbow with his producer, there was a whole new energy out of Randy.' Travis is expected to be on Capitol Hill Wednesday to help reintroduce the bipartisan No FAKES Act (Nurture Originals, Foster Art and Keep Entertainment Safe). First proposed in 2023 by Sens. Chris Coons, D-Del.; Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., the legislation has been tweaked and aims to protect Americans from deepfakes and voice clones, allow platforms to promptly remove unauthorized deepfakes and protect First Amendment use for news reporting and satire. Along with Travis, Reps. Linda Sánchez, D-Calif., and Ron Estes, R-Kan., were also honored for their efforts to assist independent artists with the HITS Act (Help Independent Tracks Succeed), which allows tax relief for the cost of sound recordings. The 90-minute event featured performances from several artists including Paul Overstreet, who co-wrote 'Forever And Ever, Amen' and urged the crowd of about 200 to sing along as he played guitar; soul/gospel singer DOE, who moved listeners with her tender ode to a friend in need, 'I'm So Glad We Met'; and Hoying, who ended the night with an impressive medley of 20 songs that won Record of the Year at the Grammys, including the Eagles' 'Hotel California' and Roberta Flack's 'Killing Me Softly With His Song.'
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Seven-Time GRAMMY® Winner Randy Travis and U.S. Representatives Linda Sánchez and Ron Estes to Be Honored During Music's Biggest Week in Washington, D.C.
Recording Academy®'s Annual GRAMMYs on the Hill® Returns to the Nation's Capital April 8-10 With Awards Ceremony, Advocacy Day and Future Forum WASHINGTON, April 01, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hosted by the Recording Academy®, music's biggest week in Washington, D.C. returns April 8-10, uniting congressional leaders and music makers to champion creators' rights and honor those who have helped shape a better future for music. The annual GRAMMYs on the Hill® Awards will kick off the week, honoring seven-time GRAMMY® winner Randy Travis and United States Representatives Linda Sánchez (D-CA) and Ron Estes (R-KS) for their commitment to advancing pro-music policy. On April 9, the Academy's annual GRAMMYs on the Hill® Advocacy Day will bring together GRAMMY winners and nominees, along with other esteemed industry leaders, for meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss critical music policy issues. The week of music advocacy culminates with the Academy's second annual GRAMMYs on the Hill Future Forum, a conference exploring critical issues impacting the music community. A detailed schedule of events is below: Tuesday, April 8 – GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards The GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards will celebrate Travis and United States Representatives Sánchez and Estes for their contributions to strengthening the music ecosystem and championing creators' rights. GRAMMY-nominated and GRAMMY-winning artists, songwriters, and producers will join music industry leaders and lawmakers in Washington, D.C., for an evening dedicated to celebrating music advocacy. Wednesday, April 9 – GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy Day Dozens of GRAMMY-nominated and GRAMMY-winning artists, songwriters and producers will join the Recording Academy on Capitol Hill for a grassroots day of advocacy. Music makers in attendance will meet with members of Congress to advocate for the key legislative priorities impacting music creators, including: Promoting new music through essential tax relief to independent artists and songwriters, enabling them to deduct 100% of production costs—up to $150,000—upfront, rather than over multiple years, through the bipartisan Help Independent Tracks Succeed (HITS) Act. Protecting creators' image, likeness and voice from unauthorized creation and use of digital replicas through the NO FAKES Act. Preserving continued federal support for the arts and cultural institutions that enrich and strengthen the cultural fabric of America. Thursday, April 10 – GRAMMYs on the Hill Future Forum The GRAMMYs on the Hill Future Forum will explore how we can help build up music communities both locally and globally. Compelling conversations will focus on the work state and local stakeholders are doing to develop and sustain music economies as well as the challenges and opportunities facing new emerging music markets around the world. "GRAMMYs on the Hill plays a pivotal role in improving the lives of music creators, and we're thrilled to see it evolve into a full week of advocacy, celebration and learning," said Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. "I'm excited to bring our music community and policymakers together in Washington—not just to celebrate the changemakers fighting for creators' rights, but to unite and take action to improve the livelihoods of music people across the country." Since its inception, GRAMMYs on the Hill has honored dozens of award-winning artists, including 16-time GRAMMY winner Alicia Keys, seven-time GRAMMY winner John Mayer, 13-time GRAMMY winner Pharrell Williams, nine-time GRAMMY winner Sheryl Crow, and more. The annual event has also recognized influential congressional leaders, including Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and former Speakers of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and many others. GRAMMYs on the Hill has led to several major legislative victories for the music industry, including the landmark Music Modernization Act in 2018 and more recently the PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act in 2022. Travis, a seven-time GRAMMY winner, Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, and multiplatinum country artist, is being recognized for his work championing fair compensation and protections for artists in the evolving digital age. In 2024, he testified on Capitol Hill in support of the American Music Fairness Act, which aims to ensure artists are fairly compensated when their songs air on AM/FM radio. He is also committed to promoting the ethical use of AI, ensuring it serves as a tool to empower and protect the creative integrity of artists. Representatives Sánchez and Estes are being honored for their leadership in championing policies that empower and protect musicians. Together, they re-introduced the HITS Act in Congress in January 2025 to advance crucial tax reforms to ensure independent music creators can thrive. More about Rep. Sánchez can be found here, and more about Rep. Estes can be found here. Year-round, the Recording Academy's Washington, D.C.-based Advocacy team mobilizes Academy members and music professionals from across the country to present a powerful lobbying force that fights for music creators' rights at the local, state and federal levels. In 2024, the Academy helped pass five pro-music laws, supported 20 state and federal bills, and rallied more than 3,500 members to engage in music advocacy efforts across the country. To read more about the Academy's advocacy impact in 2024, visit Honoree Quotes: "At this point in my life, I am fully focused on living and giving back," said Travis. "I've been part of the music community my whole life, professionally for 40 years. I am passionate about advocating to keep music an honest pursuit of art and human expression. While I remain excited about new, cutting-edge technologies, we must protect, and fairly compensate, the creative minds that give us the music—and art—that feeds our souls." "When differences too often separate us, music remains a powerful force that unites us," said Rep. Sánchez. "GRAMMYs on the Hill is a testament to that power, and I'm deeply honored to be recognized for our efforts to pass the HITS Act. This legislation empowers creators to reinvest in their craft, free from the financial burden of delayed tax deductions, ensuring they can continue making the music that brings us all together." "It is a true honor to receive an award from the Recording Academy, especially since my greatest contribution to music is as a listener and not as a music creator," said Rep. Estes. "I've seen and heard firsthand the dedication, productivity, and talent embodied in music creators, including musicians, songwriters, sound techs, studio managers, and more. Music crosses political divides, and I've been pleased to partner with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to provide fair tax treatment to artists and creators with the bipartisan HITS Act." ABOUT THE RECORDING ACADEMY The Recording Academy represents the voices of performers, songwriters, producers, engineers, and all music professionals. Dedicated to ensuring the recording arts remain a thriving part of our shared cultural heritage, the Academy honors music's history while investing in its future through the GRAMMY Museum®, advocates on behalf of music creators, supports music people in times of need through MusiCares®, and celebrates artistic excellence through the GRAMMY Awards® — music's only peer-recognized accolade and highest achievement. As the world's leading society of music professionals, we work year-round to foster a more inspiring world for creators. For more information about the GRAMMY Awards and the Recording Academy, please visit and For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @RecordingAcad on X, "like" Recording Academy on Facebook, and join the Recording Academy's social communities on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn. For media assets, please visit the Recording Academy's Press Room. ABOUT RANDY TRAVIS With lifetime sales exceeding 23 million, Randy Travis is one of the most successful multi-genre artists of all time and a 2016 inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame. A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1986, his accolades include seven GRAMMY Awards, 11 Academy of Country Music Awards, 10 American Music Awards, two People's Choice Awards, seven Music City News Awards, eight Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association, and five Country Music Association Awards. Three of his performances earned CMA Song of the Year honors: "On the Other Hand" (1986), "Forever and Ever, Amen" (1987), and "Three Wooden Crosses" (2002). To date, he has earned 23 No. 1 singles, 31 Top 10 hits, and more than 40 appearances in feature films and television shows. His discography includes four Gold albums, four Platinum albums, one Double Platinum album, one Triple Platinum album, and one Quintuple Platinum album. In 1992, Travis was recognized by the USO for his support and dedication to U.S. troops, including five USO tours, and received the Bob Hope Entertainment Award. He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004 and is celebrated on Nashville's Music City Walk of Fame. Since suffering a near-fatal stroke in 2013, Travis—through the support of his wife, Mary, and rigorous physical therapy—has made remarkable strides in recovery, including improvements in speaking, walking, and singing. In 2019, he released his critically acclaimed memoir Forever and Ever, Amen, co-authored with Ken Abraham. In 2021, CMT named Travis the CMT Artist of a Lifetime. In 2022, he released his award-winning documentary More Life, which garnered six Telly Awards. In May 2024, with the assistance of cutting-edge AI technologies, Travis and Warner Music Nashville released "Where That Came From," marking his first new recording in over a decade and showcasing his signature vocals. The single debuted at No. 45 on Billboard's Country Airplay chart and was met with enthusiastic praise from fans and country radio. The release also sparked a new chapter of advocacy, as Travis and his wife began working to promote creators' rights in Washington D.C. and across the nation, championing fair compensation and protections for artists in the evolving digital age. For more information, visit View source version on Contacts Andie Cox / Chrissy Dudash / Britta Purcell Recording / /
