# Randy Travis in Critical Condtion **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 8, 2013, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randy-travis-in-critical-condtion/662989 "2013-07-08T23:46:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randy-travis-in-critical-condtion/662989/1 "2013-07-08T23:46:08Z")
> **[Randy Travis Hospitalized in Critical Condition](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/blogs/our-country/randy-travis-hospitalized-reportedly-critical-condition-223314347.html)** > > Randy Travis was admitted to a Texas hospital Sunday and is currently in critical condition at the facility, according to his publicist. The country star is suffering from complications of recently acquired viral cardiomyopathy, which is a condition... They talk about cardiomyopathy in the article. Isn’t that many times caused by alcoholism? ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randy-travis-in-critical-condtion/662989/2 "2013-07-09T00:16:58Z")
He’s actually planned an upcoming casino tour. You’d think you only do that if you knew you were completely out of the woods. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randy-travis-in-critical-condtion/662989/3 "2013-07-09T00:28:15Z")
> **[Randy Travis undergoes heart surgery](https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2013/07/08/randy-travis-in-critical-condition/2500069/)** > > The country singer suffers from viral cardiomyopathy. > [@](#): > > Country singer Randy Travis is in critical condition at a Texas hospital after being admitted Sunday. According to a press release from his publicist, the singer of such hits as Forever and Ever, Amen, On the Other Hand and Three Wooden Crosses is suffering complications of recently acquired viral cardiomyopathy. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randy-travis-in-critical-condtion/662989/4 "2013-07-09T00:47:00Z")
Oh, dear. He’s always been one of my favorites. Still remember when I was three, romping around my Grandparents’ living room singing ‘‘Diggin’ up Bones.’’ ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randy-travis-in-critical-condtion/662989/5 "2013-07-09T01:06:18Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > [Randy Travis Hospitalized in Critical Condition](http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/our-country/randy-travis-hospitalized-reportedly-critical-condition-223314347.html) > > They talk about cardiomyopathy in the article. Isn’t that many times caused by alcoholism? Alcohol is one cause. A far more common cause is plain old coronary artery disease (i.e. previous heart attacks leaving the heart a scarred, inefficient mess). But the most common is what’s called “idiopathic”, i.e. of unknown cause. That said, [there are LOTS of possible causes](http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/cm/causes.html). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randy-travis-in-critical-condtion/662989/6 "2013-07-09T01:12:00Z")
Threads merged. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randy-travis-in-critical-condtion/662989/7 "2013-07-09T02:15:55Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > [Randy Travis Hospitalized in Critical Condition](http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/our-country/randy-travis-hospitalized-reportedly-critical-condition-223314347.html) > > They talk about cardiomyopathy in the article. Isn’t that many times caused by alcoholism? Very possible in his case. Remember the [drunk-naked driving](http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/people/17934689-421/randy-travis-admits-driving-drunk-and-naked-gets-probation.html) incident last summer? And it wasn’t his first arrest for bizarre public intoxication. No idea if it’s contributing, but he also has Lyme Disease. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randy-travis-in-critical-condtion/662989/8 "2013-07-09T02:21:29Z")
I’ve never liked his music, but I liked his appearance in a _King of the Hill_ episode. He made himself look like a total jerk in that episode, stealing Peggy’s song. When Hank later saves him from drowning, he performs a song saying that HE saved HANK’s life. ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randy-travis-in-critical-condtion/662989/9 "2013-07-09T02:32:02Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > He’s actually planned an upcoming casino tour. You’d think you only do that if you knew you were completely out of the woods. Saw his picture on a billboard yesterday advertising that tour. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randy-travis-in-critical-condtion/662989/10 "2013-07-09T02:33:12Z")
I had initially heard that he had endocarditis, which is usually caused by IV drug use, but if it was viral, AFAIK that’s something you just get and isn’t influenced by anything else. Nowadays, it’s also a very common reason for heart transplants. Hope it doesn’t come down to that. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randy-travis-in-critical-condtion/662989/11 "2013-07-09T02:53:40Z")
I really like his voice & enjoy a lot of his songs. hope he gets better. ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randy-travis-in-critical-condtion/662989/12 "2013-07-09T03:12:55Z")
Generally, according to an article about his illness, viral cardiomyopathy self-resolves. It also says that it is not that uncommon, whatever that means. But excessive amounts of alcohol may weaken the immune system. I suspect he is a dear man with a few serious emotional vulnerabilities. Such a mixed bag that is! Makes for good art while it chips away at the artist. I hope it’s not to late for him to heed his miserable wake-up calls. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randy-travis-in-critical-condtion/662989/13 "2013-07-11T05:04:37Z")
[It is not looking good for Randy; he has suffered a stroke.](http://www.wmctv.com/story/22810488/ailing-randy-travis-suffers-stroke-undergoes-surgery?utm_source=buffer&utm_campaign=Buffer&utm_content=buffer6ea8a&utm_medium=facebook) ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randy-travis-in-critical-condtion/662989/14 "2013-07-12T02:12:13Z")
I always though a lot of his music was a little too sentimental (well it is mainstream country), but he has one of the great voices in country. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randy-travis-in-critical-condtion/662989/15 "2013-07-12T13:51:03Z")
> [@syncrolecyne](#): > > I always though a lot of his music was a little too sentimental (well it is mainstream country), but he has one of the great voices in country. yes, an excellent voice, and I think the unabashed sentiment is a _strength_. sorry to hear about the stroke. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![limegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/82dd89/32.png) [@limegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/limegreen)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randy-travis-in-critical-condtion/662989/16 "2013-07-12T14:40:16Z")
I heard about the stroke last night, and was about floored when they mentioned he was 54. 54!! He looks about 70 – but I guess it’s not the years, it’s the mileage. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randy-travis-in-critical-condtion/662989/17 "2013-07-12T14:41:34Z")
> [@limegreen](#): > > I heard about the stroke last night, and was about floored when they mentioned he was 54. 54!! He looks about 70 – but I guess it’s not the years, it’s the mileage. He was very cute as recently as the 90s and looked younger than his age. I guess he just looked so cleancut that I was really surprised to learn what a rowdy youth he was and about his demons in recent years. On a purely self serving note I’ll mention that I mainly started following his career for genealogical reasons. He’s a distant cousin (we share a g-g-g-g-grandfather, so that makes us about 5th cousins if I’m not mistaken) but, interestingly, we both have much closer cousins with the same unusual given names [Lunsford and Robard] that have been in that lineage since the 17th century. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randy-travis-in-critical-condtion/662989/18 "2013-07-12T14:53:53Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Oh, dear. He’s always been one of my favorites. > > Still remember when I was three, romping around my Grandparents’ living room singing ‘‘Diggin’ up Bones.’’ ME TOO! I thought it was about dinosaurs. I loved that song. Very sad about Randy Travis. I’ve always loved his voice. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randy-travis-in-critical-condtion/662989/19 "2013-08-01T03:22:10Z")
[He’s been released to a therapy facility](http://www.today.com/entertainment/randy-travis-released-hospital-moved-therapy-facility-6C10813634).