Country Music People January 2018 | Page 5

Strait: Texan Of The Year Country legend George Strait is to become the second only musician in over 40 years to receive the honour of being named ‘Texan Of The Year’ by the Texas Legislative Conference. With more than 60 charttoppers to his name and album sales exceeding 70 million, as well as a host of awards, it was his charitable efforts raising awareness and funds for the Hurricane Harvey relief effort that clinched it for the All My Ex’s Live In Texas and Ocean Front Property singer. In a press release from the Legislative Conference, chair, Doug Miller stated, “No one has done more than George Strait to raise awareness and funds for the Hurricane Harvey relief efforts… He put his well- earned reputation on the line and asked not only his fellow Texans to step up, but all Americans. And they have.” In a concert in San Antonio as part of the Hand In Hand benefit Strait raised over $55 million in relief aid for victims of the devastating hurricane which saw so much of Texas flooded last year. Strait was instrumental in the event’s conception and was joined on the night by Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, and Robert Earl Keen. Strait is set to receive his Texan of the Year award at the official ceremony in New Braunfels, Texas, on March 22. Travis arrest video You might remember the run-in Randy Travis had with the law when he was arrested in 2012 when he was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI). Now, despite Travis’ wife, Mary-Davis Travis suing the state of Texas to block the release of the video claiming it was an invasion of privacy and should have been kept private as a medical record, the three hour police video has now been made public. In the tape, the Forever And Ever, Amen singer is drunk and belligerent with police officers and his naked body is edited out of some portions. In a statement released by Travis’ publicity team following the publishing of videos on various media outlets they stated, “Randy’s behaviour was extremely altered the evening of his arrest due to the state of his mental health, and substances in his body, causing him to do and say things that were entirely out of character. He suffered a severe concussion and sustained numerous other injuries from the crash. “Notwithstanding the release of the tape, Randy and his team will have their day in court regarding the ongoing lawsuit against the State of Texas in relation to the violation of his civil rights. “Randy Travis is well-known to be a loving, caring person who is respectful of everyone, a video that shows anything otherwise only underscores that he was absolutely not himself. Randy is deeply apologetic for his actions that evening. A man of integrity with a good heart, Randy does not and will never condone these types of actions that distort the true beliefs of Randy Travis and his entire family.” In 2013 Travis, who was one of the major players of the New Traditional movement and whose Storms Of Life is a landmark recording, suffered a debilitating stroke that has only recently seen him getting back behind the mic. JANUARY 2018 - cmp 5