Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Randy Travis Sings About Mothers in “Angels” And It Will Warm Your Heart

randy travis angels
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

In 2004, Randy Travis released “Angels” shortly after he scored a comeback hit with “Three Wooden Crosses.” The song was part of Travis’ sixteenth studio album Passing Through and peaked at No. 48 on Billboard country charts.

At the beginning of the song, you might not think of “Angels” as a song about mothers. It begins with the story of a group of friends sitting around, talking about the terrible September 11 attacks, and how much misfortune there is in the world. The conversation led some of the friends wondering if there are really angels on Earth until one guy has spoken up and said he’s never seen one. That’s when the song’s narrator jumped in. 

Randy Travis then sang some of the most touching lyrics about mothers in all of country music:

“Are you telling me that you’ve never seen an angel? Never felt the presence of one standing by? No robe of white? No halo in sight? Well, you missed the most obvious thing. Man, are you blind? Just look in your mother’s eyes,” the song goes.

The Angel in Randy Travis’ Life

It has been said that Randy Travis got his deep-set eyes and square jaw from his mother, Bobbie Traywick. Bobbie and her husband, Harold, also passed on their love of country music greats such as George Jones and Hank Williams. Travis and his brother, Ricky, were encouraged by their parents to pursue their musical talents. Bobbie and Harold had the boys take music lessons, entertain business friends, and perform at community events.

In his first album’s liner notes, Travis expressed gratitude to his parents for introducing him to country music.

“It’s the first thing I was introduced to, something I’ve always listened to and never really cared for anything else,” Travis wrote.

Bobbie Rose Tucker Traywick was born May 16, 1937, in Anson County. She settled in Union County in the late 1950s, where she and her husband raised six children, including Ricky, the oldest, and Randy, born the second.

As Randy Travis hit it big in the middle of the 1980s, recording No. 1 hits and multi-platinum albums and winning nearly every country music award imaginable, the Traywicks settled in Marshville.

“She’s been here over half her life,” Ricky Traywick said. “She loved it. These were her roots, more or less.” However, in 1998, Bobbie died of an apparent heart attack at her Marshville home. 

Well, without a doubt, the mother of one of country music’s leading singer-songwriters is smiling up above every time her son, Randy Travis, performs “Angels.” You can listen to Travis singing the touching song in the video below.

Latest Stories

Blake Shelton smiles on stage with guitar and mic during Vegas show, putting his own spin on George Strait’s classic.

Blake Shelton Nails George Strait Classic With His Own Spin on “All My Ex’s Live in Texas”

Sometimes you don’t mess with a George Strait classic, unless you’re Blake Shelton standing under the Vegas lights with a grin that says you’re about to pay tribute and stir ...

Dolly Parton smiles during Khloé podcast interview, sitting by mic and lamp as she shares why she won't stop sharing faith.

Dolly Parton Says People Tell Her To Stop Talking About Her Faith But She Won’t Listen

If there’s one thing you can count on Dolly Parton for, it’s that she’ll say exactly what’s on her heart and not give a single rhinestone what anyone thinks. In ...

Little Mississippi boy in plaid shirt smiles at mic during preschool graduation where he recited New Testament books and sang a George Strait classic.

4-Year-Old Boy Recites New Testament Books Then Belts Out ‘All My Ex’s Live in Texas’

If there’s ever been a preschool graduation that screams “God bless the South,” this is it. Somewhere in Mississippi, a four-year-old kid just made the entire congregation beam with pride ...

Young George Strait smiling on stage playing guitar in 1987 when “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” hit No. 1 and proved he ran country.

On This Day in 1987, George Strait Hit No. 1 with ‘All My Ex’s Live in Texas’ and Proved He Ran Country

Sometimes a song just cements your throne forever, and for George Strait, it was a little tongue-in-cheek love letter that made every Texan proud to claim him as their king. ...

Scotty McCreery with his wife and both grandmothers, who he revealed passed away hours apart in a heartbreaking double loss.

Scotty McCreery Reveals Both His Grandmothers Died Hours Apart in Heartbreaking Double Loss

You just don’t see some country heartbreaks coming, and this one hit Scotty McCreery straight in the soul. This week, the North Carolina native and Opry favorite shared the gut-wrenching ...

Brooks & Dunn performing on stage together, fitting their story about admitting they struggled to get along for years.

Brooks and Dunn Admit They Struggled to Get Along for Years and Tried to Blow It Real Hard

Country music’s greatest duo was basically a bar fight waiting to happen. When Brooks & Dunn stormed out of the gate with “Brand New Man” in 1991, it looked like ...

LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian smiling outdoors, not taken when she spoke about feeling hated after their affair scandal.

LeAnn Rimes Says So Many Women Hated Her After Affair With Eddie Cibrian and She Felt Like a Target

Ain’t every country ballad pretty, and LeAnn Rimes knows her verse is messy as hell. View this post on Instagram A post shared by leann rimes cibrian (@leannrimes) Back in ...

Jana Kramer with husband Allan Russell and her kids outdoors, not taken when she admitted she sometimes skips sunscreen.

Jana Kramer Admits She Skips Sunscreen Sometimes on Her Kids and Feels Fine About It

“Come at me.” That’s Jana Kramer’s whole vibe right now, and boy, they sure are. Turns out you don’t have to drop a scandalous album or torch an ex on ...

Kenny Rogers’ twin sons Justin and Jordan just turned 21 and fans say they look just like the late country music legend now.

Kenny Rogers’ Twin Sons Just Turned 21 and Fans Say They Look Just Like Him Now

A couple of chocolate cakes, two wide grins, and a whole lot of “They look just like their daddy”. That’s how Kenny Rogers’ twin sons rang in their milestone 21st ...

Waylon Jennings once called Garth Brooks the most insincere person he ever saw

Waylon Jennings Once Said Garth Brooks Was the Most Insincere Person He Ever Saw

Sometimes you need an old outlaw to call out what everyone else is too polite to say out loud. Back when Nashville was shape-shifting in the ’80s and ’90s, country ...