Randy Travis Makes 2nd Surprise Appearance at Cody Jinks Show

Perhaps one of the coolest parts of country music is when cross-generational friendships develop between performers, helping to keep the continuum of country music going, and cross-pollinating fan bases by turning on older fans to newer stars, and vice versa. We saw that with Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens, Alan Jackson and George Jones, more recently Sturgill Simpson with Merle Haggard, and the same thing has been developing between Cody Jinks and country legend Randy Travis.

Just a couple of weeks ago Saving Country Music highlighted 10 Badass Moments from Cody Jinks, and one of them was the ringing endorsement Randy Travis has given to Cody, not just by Randy randomly appearing at one of his shows in 2019, but Randy Travis actually mentioning Cody Jinks in his autobiography from 2019 as well. “I especially enjoy encouraging some of the new stars of country music, such as Cody Jinks…” Travis said.

On January 25th, 2019 at Heritage Hall in Ardmore, Oklahoma—shortly after Jinks performed the Randy Travis classic “Diggin’ Up Bones” as he commonly does in concert—Randy Travis himself surprised Cody Jinks by coming out on stage. Accompanied by his wife Mary Davis, Randy personally thanked Cody Jinks as Jinks humbly took his hat off and the crowd began to chant in unison, “Randy! Randy! Randy!”

Then Mary Davis told the assembled crowd,“[Remember] when George Jones said, ‘Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes?’ He said Randy Travis. And I just want to tell you tonight, when people ask us who is gonna fill Randy Travis’s shoes, [it’s] Cody Jinks.”

Well that wasn’t just a one-off affair. Cody Jinks finally made a return trip to Ardmore, Oklahoma and Heritage Hall on Friday, June 11th as one of his first full band shows back after the pandemic, and sure enough, Randy Travis showed up again.

Once again while singing “Diggin’ Up Bones,” Randy Travis appeared on stage unexpectedly near the end of the song.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I don’t use the term hero lightly. This man sitting right here is the reason I sing they way I do. This is Mr. Randy Travis,” said Cody Jinks.

Randy Travis may be suffering from aphasia. But his presence and the smile on his face says everything.

The first time Randy Travis showed up to a Cody Jinks show, it was a surprise, as was Randy’s endorsement of Cody Jinks in his autobiography. The way Randy came out this time, you could tell a friendship has developed between the two country stars.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the true spirit and sound of country music passes from one generation to another.

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