New Randy Travis Song Surfaces, “Lead Me Home”

This story has been updated.

Just like in May when a new song from Randy Travis surfaced called “One in a Row” unexpectedly, we have yet another new song from the Country Music Hall of Famer called “Lead Me Home” that has just been made available to the public via streaming services (listen below). Similar to “One in a Row,” the new song “Lead Me Home” was originally part of an iTunes exclusive during the heyday of the digital music format, released as part of the 2008 album Around The Bend. Now that the exclusive period has expired, the song has been made available to everyone.

The bluegrass-inspired “Lead Me Home” features plenty of dobro, banjo, mandolin, and flat-picked guitar in a song that feels just as much as a love story as a Gospel tune with its reference to cedar trees, and being led home. The Around The Bend album was Randy’s return to secular music after a stint solely recording Gospel, and the song makes a good transition between the two worlds.

Shawn Camp wrote the song with Joe Henry. “Wow! I just found out Randy Travis released a song I co-wrote with Joe Henry as his new Single! “ Camp said on Friday after learning of the release. “I’ve been a fan of his since he started out, always loved his voice! Thanks Randy Travis!”

Likely the personnel featured on the track is the same from the rest of the Around The Bend record, including Rob Ikes on dobro, Bryan Sutton on banjo, and possibly Aubrey Haynie on mandolin.

After suffering his stroke in 2013, it’s been a struggle to get by without any new music from Randy Travis, and we though we’d heard the last of it. Randy Travis released his final two records, Influence: The Man I Am Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, covering many song that made a big impact on his neotraditional style over the years. Volume 1 also included a tribute to George Jones who’d passed away mere months earlier in 2013 called “Tonight I’m Playing Possum” written by long-time Randy Travis friend and producer Keith Gattis.

Travis celebrated his 60th birthday on May 4th, and the Grand Ole Opry paid him a proper tribute on the milestone. He also recently released an autobiography recounting his life in country music called Forever and Ever, Amen, with a special emphasis on his health struggles. He signed his first major record deal in 1985, and a year later was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. Randy would go on to sell over 25 million records, win seven Grammy awards, multiple CMA and ACM Awards, and be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

Randy Travis continues to make efforts to be a part of the country music community despite his health issues stemming from his 2013 stroke, regularly making surprise appearances at concerts and country music functions.

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