News : Headlines : Randy Travis Does His Own Thing : Great American Country

Country fans get up close and personal with Taylor Swift, Randy Travis, Gretchen Wilson, Sara Evans, Joe Nichols, Bucky Covington and Jake Owen on June 5, 2008 at the CMA Celebrity Close Up series, hosted by Lorianne Crook, which will air on GAC later this year. Photo credit: David Vespie.

July 16, 2008 — Randy Travis released his first country album in eight years this week, launching it at a time when the genre is folding in plenty of rock influences.

Randy established his reputation as a staunch country vocalist, and he didn’t even consider trying to make an album that capitalized on current trends when he recorded Around The Bend.

"I can only do what I do," Randy told The Tennessean. "There are people in this business, like Reba [McEntire] and Vince [Gill], that can pretty much do any kind of format and make it work for them as singers. I am about as country as dirt."

A perfect example comes with the current single, "Dig Two Graves," a traditional-sounding ballad with a deathly title.

"It made me think of something Vern Gosdin would have done years ago," Randy said. "The title is a little deceiving. When you hear ‘Dig Two Graves,’ it could have gone in two directions. It’s really a love song, saying basically, ‘If you go before me, I might as well go, because I would have no reason for me staying.’ It’s a wonderful piece of writing."

Randy has plenty of TV appearances on tap this week to promote the album. He’s on "Good Morning America" today, "Regis & Kelly" Thursday and "The Today show" Friday. And he’ll appear — along with Gretchen Wilson and Taylor Swift — on GAC’s CMA Celebrity Close Up on Saturday, beginning at 9 p.m. ET. Click here to watch a sneak peek!

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