Michael Ray Discusses Dream Collaboration with Randy Travis at CMA Fest

Michael Ray's dreams came true when Randy Travis joined him onstage during his performance at the CMA Fest Riverfront Stage.

Written by Annie Reuter
Michael Ray Discusses Dream Collaboration with Randy Travis at CMA Fest
Michael Ray and Randy Travis; Photo via Warner Music Nashville

Michael Ray grew up watching recaps of CMA Fest on CMT and ABC and always dreamed of witnessing one of the festival’s big moments. Little did he know, years later he’d be making his own festival memory with none other than Randy Travis.

The “Get To You” singer is managed by Tony Conway, who also represents Travis. Ray recently told Sounds Like Nashville and other media that when learning that Travis would be in town during his CMA Fest performance he told his manager that he’d love for the country legend to join him on the Riverfront Stage.

“I got asked not long ago what would be my dream collaboration,” Ray tells reporters. “I think I did my dream collaboration at Riverfront. For him to come out . . . I told Ms. Mary [Travis’ wife], ‘They’re going to lose their minds when he comes out.’ And she goes, ‘You think so?’ What I didn’t realize was how much it was going to happen. As soon as I said, ‘Ladies and gentleman, Mr. Randy Travis,’ from kids to the people who were young when he first came out, all ages stood up. It was so loud you couldn’t even hear in the inner ears.”

Michael Ray and Randy Travis; Photo via Warner Music Nashville

Michael Ray and Randy Travis; Photo via Warner Music Nashville

It was an emotional moment for Ray and his team watching Travis sing the final note of “Forever and Ever, Amen,” and hearing the thousands of country fans in attendance chant for the country legend. It was also a memory Ray won’t soon forget.

“To see all the responses coming back, I feel like I finally got to see that dream of making a moment during CMA Fest that I’ll definitely never forget and hopefully everyone at Riverfront will never forget,” he adds.

Ray, who is currently working on his sophomore album, says he grew up listening to traditional country music. Acts like Porter Wagoner, Bobby Bare, Ray Price, Earl Thomas Conley and Travis were big influences.

“A lot of people don’t pay attention to the fact that his first album sold three million copies,” Ray marvels about Travis. “He’s the first solo male artist to ever sell three million copies in the history of the genre. He single-handedly turned this genre around and he has legends like Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, George Strait, going, ‘If it wasn’t for Randy Travis I don’t know if I’d be where I am right now.'”

Ray is currently in a good place as he recently celebrated his No.1 smash “Think A Little Less,” and is back at country radio with the new track, “Get To You.”