Referring to Randy Travis as a country/gospel legend would only be scratching the surface when it comes to describing a remarkable human being.

Sure, the longtime Grand Ole Opry member sold over 25 million albums, logged 22 chart-topping singles, swooped up every award imaginable, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, given stars on the Hollywood/Music City Walks of Fame and acted alongside all the A-listers in more than 40 movies or TV shows.

But he also survived virtually nine lives right up until a near-fatal stroke, all while navigating a complicated but continuous trail towards redemption.

It’s a thread that runs throughout his autobiography, “For Ever And Ever, Amen,” plus one that permeates his new music projects, which include the inspirational compilation album, “Precious Memories,” and the live DVD, “Worship & Faith.”

Chicago Concert Reviews called Randy and his wife/soulmate Mary Travis for the latest on that legacy, and though Randy was only able to verbalize a few words on occasion, he was nonetheless extremely present, engaged and affirming of Mary’s sentiments, while the couple’s interactions and overall connection was even evident over the phone.

The timing for an inspirational album like “Precious Memories” is truly perfect for times like these. What do you hope listeners will take away from the project?

Mary Travis: Bill Gaither decided to go and rescue the masters on several of those [songs], repackage them and put them back out there again. We hope that people find encouragement and enlightenment. As wonderful of a country singer as Randy was and is, we get so many letters from fans that were touched by his gospel music. Like you said, right now is a good time for people to hone in on that and just [get] encouragement and refresh the soul because we all need that right now. I think we’re a spoiled nation and we kind of got away from the basics. We’ve got to get back to the basics and nothing is more basic than the old hymns and the old gospel [songs] that we grew up with when we were going to church with our family, [then] going home and saying a blessing over Sunday lunch.

Were there any specific criteria for the selection process or simply a matter of your favorites that fit the theme?

Mary Travis: The Gaithers picked the ones that they wanted on it. We were, of course, fine with any of them. People always asked Randy “what are your favorites?” and he and [producer] Kyle Lehning decided a long time ago they’d never record anything they didn’t love. Right?

Randy Travis: Yes.

There’s also the companion DVD, “Worship & Faith,” from a concert recorded in 2003. What sticks out in your mind about that filming session?

Mary Travis: That was down in Florida and it was a mega church, a big church. Randy said that was one of the sweetest large congregations that he sang for and the performance went off without a hitch. He just said it was great singing in a church that size with people that were that full of love and that full of the spirit. He said this was one of them that was always his favorite. They filmed it and did a great job with it. Some of them had gotten filmed and they just didn’t turn out as well. This is a perfect storm.

Another event I wanted to ask you about was your 60th birthday celebration at the Grand Ole Opry last year. Can you describe the emotions that ran through your mind during not only the salutes, but also when you joined everyone on stage for the finale?

Mary Travis: That was special.

Randy Travis: Yeah.

Mary Travis: The Grand Ole Opry approached us and asked if they could do something for him, which I mean how could you ask for a better birthday celebration to have the people that were there who were so instrumental in his songs? When Randy was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry, he was the youngest male artist at the time to ever be asked to join. He has quite a history there. I think they fell in love with him like we all do at first sight. We had a wonderful time. We were very honored and I know it touched him. He had a tear in one eye and a twinkle in the other.

We initially got to know you through country music, but you’ve made just as much of an impression in gospel. Tell us a bit what it’s been like going back and forth between the two genres.

Mary Travis: Well, and I keep answering for him because as you know he can’t speak in long conversations.

That’s no problem. I’m just glad to have you both with us today.

Randy Travis: Yup.

Mary Travis: After he got baptized, the next big thing that happened was “Three Wooden Crosses” came out and hit number one and went all across gospel and pop. It crossed all the genres and it didn’t have any boundaries. That was a year after he was baptized in 2001 I believe. Isn’t that right honey?

Randy Travis: Yes.

Mary Travis: And it came out in 2002 and hit number one. That was one that was gospel and country and it was just a natural segue. That was the first number one he had in ten years.

Randy Travis: Mmmh.

Mary Travis: So it was kind of an answer to God saying “you can do both of these and do them well.” I think his songs are great story songs. He ministers to people both in a country song and in a gospel song. It’s like some people say “he may be the only Bible people read.” He’s lived a life of being very human, making mistakes, owning up to those mistakes and not blaming anybody but himself. So he lived the songs that he sang…I don’t think he had a hard time going back and forth between the two and then getting on a horse and getting on his western movies. (Laughs).

Randy Travis: (Laughs).

What stands out most for you guys as far as your time on TV and making movies?

Mary Travis: What would you say, the westerns?

Randy Travis: Yeah.

Mary Travis: And maybe Andy Griffith.

Randy Travis: Yeah.

Mary Travis: [Acting with] Andy Griffith, Roy Rogers, Patrick Swayze…

Randy Travis: Yes.

Mary Travis: He got to meet so many different people and he did everything from “Blue’s Clues” to…

Randy Travis: “Texas…”

Mary Travis: “Texas Rangers.” So he did a little bit of everything, but he said he really enjoyed working with Andy Griffith. He was kind of like his hero or his dad. Andy would sit down and talk to him and say “son, when you’re doing this scene, do it this way or think about this.” He was just such a teacher and a mentor, so he loved those. He loved “Touched By An Angel.” I think he wishes he could’ve done more westerns in the end, but he had a good time with it. I think it was a good reprieve from the grind of making albums and touring all the time and being on the road 300 days out of the year.

You can now add being an author to your resume with the release of “Forever And Ever, Amen.” What type of reaction have you received from readers?

Mary Travis: Great. We’ve had wonderful reactions. The ones who’ve read it have written us, messaged us or emailed us and I think that they’re inspired by it…They know Randy through his music and his acting. Now they get to know some of the background, some of the life that he lived and where he came from, what makes him the man that he is that wrote the music and sang the songs that he did. You get to know more about him and the struggles that he’s had and the victories. Everything from the time he was born in Marshville, North Carolina up until post-stroke. I think it’s just an inside view of Randy the man- the precious man.

How is everything going on the road to recovery from the stroke?

Mary Travis: Well, it’s been seven years now, which is hard to believe. I guess time does fly when you’re having a good time and we’ve had a good time. We’ve made the best of it. Everyone is different [who’s had a stroke] and you just never know one day to the next if there’s a new word or a new function [to come]. We went to therapy for two-and-a-half-years every single day after he got out in the hospital. We were in the hospital for five-and-a-half months and then went straight to therapy for two-and-a-half-years. He kind of got tired of therapy.

Randy Travis: Yeah, I know!

Mary Travis: (Laughs). He just finally got burned out. It was tough, four or five hours a day every single day for two-and-a-half-years. He was a trooper I tell you. Now we’re at home. Of course, everybody’s at home now.

Randy Travis: Yup.

Mary Travis: We’re just blessed that we’re still here. I tell people any day on the right side of the dirt is a good day. We’ll take what we can get and we’re happy that we’re still here.

I feel like there’s an opportunity for another book detailing all you went through as a couple navigating this journey together.

Mary Travis: I think so. And it’s not just because it’s us, but because you realize that everybody has the struggles and everybody has set backs all the time. It all has to do with attitude and hope and reason. I would be encouraged to hear somebody else. I search for stuff to read to feel like we’re not the only ones going through it and this is where our source of strength is. I think it would be a great sequel ‘cause he has lived a lot of life after the stroke and still made a difference in his music and in his presence. I tell him all the time when we go to book signings or to events “you can just walk in a room and make people’s day. You make people cry just by walking in a room.” I say “I make people cry when I walk in the room, but it’s an entirely different reason.” (Everyone laughs). You’re just so precious in your presence. It’s that heart of his, what he meant to people for so many years, his kindness and his humility. It’s that gentle strength that he has and it just oozes out of him.

Randy Travis: Wow.

Mary Travis: We go to book signings and people are waiting in line just to shake his hand or hug his neck and they’re crying. “I can’t tell you what he means to me” and “how wonderful it is that you’ve gotten to touch that many people.” He’s still making a difference, even in his silence.

There’s even been talk of you touring again. Can you explain what that format might look like?

Mary Travis: We actually did three of them last fall. It’s “The Music Of Randy Travis” and it’s sung by James Dupré from Louisiana. He was on “The Voice” and is just a sweet, sweet young man with a beautiful, natural voice.

Randy Travis: He is.

Mary Travis: He’s kind of like Randy. He opens his mouth and it just falls out. It’s perfect pitch and he has a lot of the same stage presence that Randy has. He doesn’t dance around much.

Randy Travis: Nope.

Mary Travis: He just stands and sings the song and he visits the fans and listens to conversations and just has that same kind of demeanor. So James is singing and our plan is to do that again. Of course, everything’s been put on the back burner right now…We did one at the Ryman in Nashville and it was a wonderful concert. Paul Overstreet came, who was one of the writers of a lot of Randy’s hits. He did a guest appearance, so we hope to have other guest appearances, surprise guests and things like that. We had wonderful turnouts, sell outs and we hope to do that more. Randy, of course, is there on the stage, and there again, it’s just Randy and his presence is enough for people. They say music adds amazing benefits. It heals the performer and the listener. It’s an equal opportunity healer.

We hope you come to Chicago after the world gets going again. Do you have any recollections of when you were in town last?

Mary Travis: We sure would love to come to Chicago. It’s been a lot of years since we’ve been there. [RiverEdge Park in Aurora] was the last big concert he did before the stroke. The interesting part was he was there with Loretta Lynn and Loretta Lynn was one of the very first people he ever toured with.

Randy Travis: Yes.

Mary Travis: He opened for her and his very last concert was with Loretta opening up for him.

Randy Travis: Yup.

Mary Travis: Isn’t that neat? It was in Illinois and it was a nice venue. He’s been to Chicago several times, of course, not since the stroke, so it has been over seven years since we’ve been there, but we love Chicago.

Randy Travis: Yes.

Is there anything left you’d like to accomplish?

Mary Travis: At this point in time, just to continue healing. I think that’s important. He has accomplished so much in his life. Just walk into his award room. They were up in boxes in the attic and he was like “what are you bringing those down for?” I said “because you worked hard for them and they need to be displayed so the rest of us can enjoy them even if you don’t.” (Everyone laughs). [There was] box after box after box of awards. He doesn’t think that much of them. He’s so humble and so full of humility…I think the most important thing for him at this point in time is just to continue encouraging people, being a bright spot and reminding people that you can come from a bad situation and overcome it and not to lose sight of that. That’s most important and that’s our faith in God. That’s the words that he’s always wanted to spread and he still does. I don’t think it’s any different now.

Can I get an “amen”?

Mary Travis: Amen.

Randy Travis: (Extended laughter).

Mary Travis: Say “amen” honey.

Randy Travis: Amen!

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For additional information on Randy Travis, visit RandyTravis.com.