Randy Travis Debuts Original Recording 'From The Vault,' First In 18 Years

Randy Travis brought his “unmistakable and timeless voice back from the vault,” with his newest single on Friday (July 10). It’s the first original recording by the country star in nearly two decades.

Travis, 67, released “Fish On,” the first original recording to release from his upcoming album. The Country Music Hall of Fame member wrote “Fish On” with Ron Avis, bringing “his multi-generational, genre-defying, neo-traditional sound back to listeners, singing about his longtime love of fishing. This back-porch toe-tapping country song is perfect for a summer day and is rooted in nostalgia that will continue to bring fans back,” states a press release issued Friday. Longtime producer Kyle Lehning assembled, remixed and remastered the unreleased track “to give the world more original Randy Travis music.”

“Today marks a special milestone as the first of Randy’s original recordings released in 18 years, and the first single from an upcoming album of previously unreleased original songs from the vault,” reads a post on Travis’ Instagram account. “We hope this song takes you back to the moments that matter most.”

“We're going ocean to ocean and all points in between / Headin' for some waters few have ever seen / Rivers, lakes, streams, or bays, get ready set, we're gone / Any place we can find to wet a line is a good time / Fish on”

“I wrote this song with my longtime bus driver and dear friend Ron Avis, and it’s incredibly special to me that it’s been found in the archives,” Travis said with the help of his wife, Mary. “Having my longtime producer, Kyle Lehning, do what he does best has made bringing it back to life even more meaningful. I’ve always loved fishing and country music, and being able to share this song so many years later means a great deal to me. There’s just no getting over the joy of sharing music with the people who’ve supported me through the years. It’s been an honor to share the love of country music with listeners of all ages for so many decades, and I feel truly blessed.”

Travis announced his upcoming album earlier this week during a visit to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Details about the album — including a title and a release date — have not been announced as of publication time. Travis said in a statement with Mary’s help earlier this week: “Sharing the love of music for decades with listeners of all ages has been an honor of mine. I feel extremely blessed. Earlier this week, as we announced my new album and played some of the songs for the children and families at St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, I was reminded of my reason for doing it. Gratitude and appreciation welled up as emotions I didn’t expect when stories were shared about a particular song's impact on their lives. I hope these dusted-off songs from the vault touch folks the same old way.”

“Fish On” follows Travis’ groundbreaking new music with the help of AI (Artificial Intelligence). He previously release “Where That Came From,” “Horses In Heaven” and “Where My Heart Is” with the help of AI. Mary told iHeartCountry in May 2024 that it was “emotional” to hear his voice again. Travis suffered a stroke in 2013 that left him with lasting damage to the part of his brain that controls speech and language. Mary said, “it was so beautiful to hear that voice.“

Travis, who recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of his debut album (Storms Of Life), is continuing his “More Life Tour” throughout the year. see the list of upcoming dates below, and listen to “Fish On” here:

More Life Tour Dates:

Aug. 21 – Hiawassee, GA – Georgia Mountain Fall Festival – Anderson Music Hall

Sept. 23 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts

Sept. 24 – Lansdowne, PA – Lansdowne Theater

Sept. 25 – Westbury, NY – Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair

Sept. 26 – York, PA – Pullo Center

Sept. 27 – Albany, NY – The Egg Performing Arts Center

Oct. 1 – New London, CT – Garde Arts Center

Oct. 2 – Keene, NH – Colonial Theatre

Oct. 3 – Plymouth, MA – Plymouth Memorial Hall

Oct. 4 – Northampton, MA – Academy of Music Theatre

Oct. 14 – Austin, TX – The Long Center for the Performing Arts

Oct. 15 – Dallas, TX – Longhorn Ballroom

Oct. 16 – Beaumont, TX – Jefferson Theatre

Oct. 22 – Lubbock, TX – Buddy Holly Hall

Oct. 23 – Albuquerque, NM – Popejoy Theatre

Oct. 24 – Pueblo, CO – Pueblo Memorial Hall

Nov. 6 – Oklahoma City, OK – Civic Center Music Hall

Nov. 7 – Topeka, KS – Topeka Performing Arts Center

Nov. 8 – Branson, MO – Clay Cooper Theatre