Randy Travis has released “I Don’t Care,” the second previously unreleased track from his forthcoming album of vault recordings — his first collection of new material since 2008’s Around The Bend.
The song arrived on August 7th, continuing a remarkable chapter for the country legend, who has been drawing on a catalog of recordings made before his near-fatal 2013 stroke. That stroke left Travis with severe brain damage, expressive aphasia affecting his ability to speak and sing, and reliant on a wheelchair. The prospect of new music from Travis had long seemed impossible — until the existence of these unreleased sessions changed the picture entirely.
A Vault Album Years in the Making
Travis’s wife Mary first signaled the project was coming during an appearance on the Nashville Palace Podcast on July 6th. Shortly afterward, Travis visited St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, where he announced the album of original music and gave patients and families an early preview of the songs. Country singer Alexandra Kay joined him for the occasion, performing several of Travis’s signature hits, including “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “I Told You So,” and “Deeper Than the Holler.”
In a statement released with Mary’s assistance shortly after the St. Jude visit, Travis reflected on the experience: “Sharing the love of music for decades with listeners of all ages has been an honor of mine. I feel extremely blessed. Earlier this week, as we announced my new album and played some of the songs for the children and families at St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, I was reminded of my reason for doing it.”
The album’s lead single, “Fish On,” dropped on July 10th. To mark the release, Travis’s team scattered fishing bobbers attached to signed Polaroid photos across Nashville, Tennessee.
“I Don’t Care” Builds Anticipation Before Its Release
Travis began teasing the second track on July 29th, posting a carousel of images hinting at lyrics — “I don’t know…I can’t lie…I don’t care.” The following day, he confirmed the title as “I Don’t Care” and shared additional lyric excerpts ahead of the August 7th release.
With two singles now out, attention turns to what the full album will look like — and how many more of those vault recordings Travis and his team are prepared to bring into the light.
