Randy Travis, a country music star, has expressed his sympathies to his dear friend and stagehand.

Travis confirmed the death of his former stagehand Thomas Roberts in a Facebook post on July 10. “With the passing of Thom Roberts, the stage has dimmed,” Travis wrote.

“For many years, the Randy Travis band and crew had the opportunity to share the winding roads and beautiful venues with one of the industry’s best stage lighting technicians. Thom had a subtle, captivating presence that sparked your soul as well as a remarkable sense of lighting a stage. Always ready to help, with a ‘can do’ and a ‘glad to do it’ attitude.”

According to Travis, Thom “was a gentle giant of a man who wore a constant smile on his face and carried a song in his heart. A nicer, gentler attitude would take a lifetime to find.”

A former stagehand for country star Randy Travis was allegedly shot dead by his wife because she believed he was having an affair, according to authorities. https://t.co/8AixvmHAro

— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 11, 2023

“Thom was my friend, and I loved him. The music will not be as wonderful when we return to the road next week for Randy Travis’ “More Life” tour, but I will be reminded of the blessing I was given to having Thom Roberts on the road with us for so many miles and so many memories.”

“It certainly won’t be the same; and, I know I speak for the entire band and crew when I say, the light that he truly created, in our hearts, will never be extinguished or forgotten,” Travis added. “Tonight, I’ll look to heaven, and I’m sure I’ll see flashes of Thom’s handiwork in the night sky, letting us know he’s home and everything is fine.”

According to reports, Thomas was shot and died at the age of 68. According to police sources, Roberts was shot by his wife, Christine Ann Roberts, 72.

A longtime stagehand for country star Randy Travis was gunned down by his wife, “who said that she shot her husband because he had cheated on her.”https://t.co/zG2zmRCeqX

— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) July 11, 2023

According to the report, the gunshot penetrated Thomas’s chest while he was standing on their front porch around 8 p.m. Christine told officers upon her arrest that “she had shot her husband because he had cheated on her.”

It’s uncertain whether or not those statements are true. After witnessing Thomas laying on the floor, a nearby neighbor who heard the gunshots phoned 911.

At the scene, Thomas was pronounced deceased. According to Today, he had worked as a stagehand for Randy Travis for 20 years until Randy’s stroke in 2013.

Randy Travis Releases New Single ‘Where That Came From’ — Crafted with the Help of AI: ‘It’s Still His Vocal’

The single marks the first song Travis has released since he suffered a stroke in 2013

New music from Randy Travis has arrived!

The country star, 64, released the new song “Where That Came From” on Friday, May 3, marking his first new track since he was sidelined by a stroke in 2013.

“Eleven years ago I never thought I would be able to have a hand in music production of any kind, but by God’s grace and the support of family, friends, fellow artists, and fans, I’m able to create the music I so dearly love,” Travis wrote in an Instagram caption announcing the song.

The seven-time Grammy winner went on to give a shoutout to his longtime producer Kyle Lehning as well as Warner Music Nashville, writing that working with them has been “so special and nostalgic.”

“I’m so excited to share my new song ‘Where That Came From’ with you today,” he wrote. “Many thanks to my wonderful team and the best fans in the world for putting me back in the saddle again! I’ve enjoyed every moment of it.”

 

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A post shared by Randy Travis (@therandytravis)

Travis’ stroke greatly affected his speaking, writing and reading skills — and in an interview with CBS News Sunday Morning, Warner Music Nashville’s Cris Lacy revealed that “Where That Came From” was created with the help of artificial intelligence.

“It’s Randy Travis,” said Lacy. “Randy’s on the other side of the microphone. … It’s still his vocal …There’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to make music. … And to deprive him of that, if he still wants to do that, that’s unconscionable to me.”

According to the outlet, Lehning crafted a song using audio tracks that Travis had previously recorded as a way in. Another singer then used a special AI program overlaid with Travis’s voice to create a new recording, which Lehning and Travis then melded together into the new song

“It’s not about how it sounds. It’s about how it feels,” said Lehning. “Him being here and him being able to be, you know, a vital part of the decision-making process makes all the difference to me.”

The “I Told You So” singer announced the song two days before its release.

Since 2013, he’s remained active, releasing a memoir in 2019 and a documentary in 2020 that featured several new, previously recorded songs from the vault.