ArtistDirect News
Randy Travis to Release First Original Album in 18 Years, Unveils Archived Track "Fish On"
Randy Travis, the country‑music icon whose voice once defined a generation, is poised to deliver a long‑awaited gift: his first album of new material in almost two decades.
The project, produced by longtime collaborator Kyle Lehning, will feature songs recorded before the singer’s 2013 stroke that left him unable to sing. The first single, "Fish On," dropped on July 10, 2026, after a preview given to patients and families at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
Travis’s career launched in the late 1970s and peaked in the mid‑1980s with the triple‑platinum album Storms of Life. Over the next twenty years he released more than twenty studio albums and charted more than fifty singles, including sixteen that reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. In 2016 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. A stroke in July 2013 severely limited his speaking and singing ability, but he has continued to release archival recordings and has performed in limited public appearances.
Since the stroke, Travis has explored new ways to share his music. In 2024 he released the single "Where That Came From," a track produced with artificial‑intelligence software that reconstructed his voice over a vocal bed recorded in 2011. The project was one of several AI‑generated releases that followed his health challenges. The 2026 album, however, will contain original recordings made before the stroke, offering listeners a direct link to the artist’s pre‑disability sound.
The album is still untitled and no official release date has been announced. According to reports, the project is a compilation of “lost” songs that were left off earlier albums. Kyle Lehning, who has produced nearly every Travis record, is handling the final production work. In a statement shared with the press, Travis said, “Having my longtime producer, Kyle Lehning, do what he does best has made bringing it back to life even more meaningful.” He added that the song was written with his longtime bus driver and friend Ron Avis and that it is “incredibly special to me that it’s been found in the archives.”
"Fish On" is described as a feel‑good, summer‑ready ditty. The track’s lyrics reference fishing and travel, themes that have long appeared in Travis’s catalog. While the song is not expected to compete for major awards, it marks the first new original recording from the artist in nearly two decades. The single was first previewed to a private audience at St. Jude, where Travis expressed gratitude for the support he has received over the years.
Industry observers note that the release of archival material is a common practice for legacy artists. Previous examples include Waylon Jennings, Gary Stewart, and Don Williams, who all released songs that had been recorded during earlier sessions but never made it onto an album. For Travis, the project represents a significant chapter in his career, offering fans a chance to hear fresh material that predates his health challenges.
The album’s release will also provide a new entry point for younger listeners who may be unfamiliar with Travis’s extensive catalog. By reintroducing his voice in its original form, the project could broaden his audience beyond the traditional country‑music demographic.
As of now, the album’s title, full track list, and release date remain undisclosed. The single "Fish On" will be available on major streaming platforms, and further details are expected to follow from Travis’s management team.
The project underscores the enduring relevance of Travis’s music and the ongoing efforts to preserve his legacy. With the release of archival tracks, the country‑music community will once again have access to the artist’s distinctive baritone and songwriting craft.
The project, produced by longtime collaborator Kyle Lehning, will feature songs recorded before the singer’s 2013 stroke that left him unable to sing. The first single, "Fish On," dropped on July 10, 2026, after a preview given to patients and families at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
Travis’s career launched in the late 1970s and peaked in the mid‑1980s with the triple‑platinum album Storms of Life. Over the next twenty years he released more than twenty studio albums and charted more than fifty singles, including sixteen that reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. In 2016 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. A stroke in July 2013 severely limited his speaking and singing ability, but he has continued to release archival recordings and has performed in limited public appearances.
Since the stroke, Travis has explored new ways to share his music. In 2024 he released the single "Where That Came From," a track produced with artificial‑intelligence software that reconstructed his voice over a vocal bed recorded in 2011. The project was one of several AI‑generated releases that followed his health challenges. The 2026 album, however, will contain original recordings made before the stroke, offering listeners a direct link to the artist’s pre‑disability sound.
The album is still untitled and no official release date has been announced. According to reports, the project is a compilation of “lost” songs that were left off earlier albums. Kyle Lehning, who has produced nearly every Travis record, is handling the final production work. In a statement shared with the press, Travis said, “Having my longtime producer, Kyle Lehning, do what he does best has made bringing it back to life even more meaningful.” He added that the song was written with his longtime bus driver and friend Ron Avis and that it is “incredibly special to me that it’s been found in the archives.”
"Fish On" is described as a feel‑good, summer‑ready ditty. The track’s lyrics reference fishing and travel, themes that have long appeared in Travis’s catalog. While the song is not expected to compete for major awards, it marks the first new original recording from the artist in nearly two decades. The single was first previewed to a private audience at St. Jude, where Travis expressed gratitude for the support he has received over the years.
Industry observers note that the release of archival material is a common practice for legacy artists. Previous examples include Waylon Jennings, Gary Stewart, and Don Williams, who all released songs that had been recorded during earlier sessions but never made it onto an album. For Travis, the project represents a significant chapter in his career, offering fans a chance to hear fresh material that predates his health challenges.
The album’s release will also provide a new entry point for younger listeners who may be unfamiliar with Travis’s extensive catalog. By reintroducing his voice in its original form, the project could broaden his audience beyond the traditional country‑music demographic.
As of now, the album’s title, full track list, and release date remain undisclosed. The single "Fish On" will be available on major streaming platforms, and further details are expected to follow from Travis’s management team.
The project underscores the enduring relevance of Travis’s music and the ongoing efforts to preserve his legacy. With the release of archival tracks, the country‑music community will once again have access to the artist’s distinctive baritone and songwriting craft.