Country music legend Randy Travis’ wife, Mary, has revealed that doctors once told her to end her husband’s life support during his harrowing recovery from a massive stroke in 2013, a moment she says she instead met with defiance because she believed he was still fighting to survive.

The revelation, shared in an interview with Fox News Digital, offers new insight into just how close the 67-year-old Country Music Hall of Fame member came to not surviving the health crisis that ultimately robbed him of his ability to sing, even as Travis continues to tour and release new music more than a decade later.

A devastating diagnosis

Travis’ stroke struck in 2013, following an earlier hospitalization for congestive heart failure tied to viral cardiomyopathy. According to Mary, the singer’s condition deteriorated further in the hospital as he developed a staph infection along with several additional hospital-acquired bacterial infections, including Serratia and Pseudomonas. That combination of complications led doctors to conclude that Travis simply did not have the physical strength to recover.

“We need to pull the plug. He’s got too many things going against him at that point,” Mary recalled doctors telling her during that period, describing it as one of the most pivotal moments of what she has called a two-and-a-half-year health battle.

Rather than accepting that recommendation, Mary said she refused to give up on her husband, drawing strength from a subtle but powerful sign he gave her at his bedside. She said Travis squeezed her hand and shed a tear at the exact moment doctors were urging her to let him go, a gesture that convinced her he was determined to keep fighting. “There was never a doubt in Randy’s mind that he could make it through it,” Mary said, reflecting on that moment.

A recovery doctors didn’t expect

The odds facing Travis at the time were extraordinarily grim. CBS News has reported that doctors gave him just a 2% chance of survival following the stroke, making his continued recovery in the years since all the more remarkable to those who have followed his story. The stroke ultimately left Travis with aphasia, a condition that severely limits both his speech and his ability to sing, effects that remain with him to this day.

Despite those lasting limitations, Travis has continued to find ways to stay connected to music and to his fans. He has toured in recent years alongside guest vocalist James Dupré and members of his original band, allowing him to remain a visible presence on stage even though he can no longer perform vocals himself. In 2024, Travis made headlines again after using artificial intelligence technology to help recreate his voice, allowing him to release new original music for the first time since his stroke, a development his wife has since described as deeply emotional for the couple.

Recognition for his resilience

Travis’ continued advocacy and public presence following his stroke have not gone unnoticed within the country music industry. He was awarded the Milestone Award at the 18th ACM Honors in recognition of both his resilience since the stroke and his advocacy work around stroke awareness and healthcare rights within the entertainment industry. Reflecting on the honor, Mary has said the word “milestone” carries deep personal meaning for the couple, capturing the full arc of what Travis has endured, from his earlier battle with viral cardiomyopathy through the stroke and its lasting aftermath.

A relationship built over decades

Mary and Randy’s relationship stretches back far longer than their marriage. The couple first knew each other beginning in 1990, though they did not begin dating until 2010, three years before his stroke. They married in 2015, two years after Travis’ health crisis nearly ended his life, and have since described their bond as central to his ongoing recovery. Mary has said she views their pairing as effortless, describing Travis as her best friend and crediting their timing together as something she believes was guided by a higher purpose.

Still performing in 2026

More than a decade removed from the stroke that nearly claimed his life, Travis remains an active presence on the road. His 2026 tour schedule includes 21 scheduled appearances beginning March 12 and running through Oct. 2, according to information listed on his official website, a pace that underscores just how far he has come since the days when doctors doubted he would survive at all.

Travis has also continued to make public appearances tied to his legacy within country music. He was seen last year at the Medallion Ceremony for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Class of 2025, walking the red carpet alongside Mary in a moment fans and industry observers alike described as significant given the severity of his earlier health struggles.

A story that continues to resonate

Mary’s account of the moment doctors urged her to remove her husband from life support has continued to circulate widely since she first shared it publicly, resonating with fans who have followed Travis’ career for decades and who have watched him defy expectations again and again in the years since his stroke. For Mary, the memory remains a defining chapter in their relationship, one she has said reinforced her belief in her husband’s determination during the darkest moment of his health battle.

With his touring schedule extending through the fall and his continued use of AI technology to keep producing new music, Travis shows no signs of stepping back from public life despite the lasting physical toll of his stroke. For Mary, the couple’s ongoing journey together remains rooted in the same resolve that carried them through his hospitalization more than a decade ago, a bond she has described as unbreakable regardless of the health challenges that continue to shape their life together.

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The UK economy would shrink by 0.2 per cent in 2027 if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed until next spring, with inflation more than doubling to 6.4 per cent by the end of this year, according to EY’s latest UK Economic Outlook.

The forecast sets out two scenarios for the waterway, which normally carries 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas.

Under EY’s baseline, in which the Strait reopens by the end of September, inflation rises from its current level of 2.6 per cent to 3.5 per cent. The economy grows by 0.9 per cent in 2026 and by 1.2 per cent in 2027, and the Bank of England cuts interest rates twice next year, to 3.25 per cent.

Under the adverse scenario, in which the Strait stays shut until early or mid-2027, meaning it would have been closed for at least a year since the war with Iran began, inflation reaches 6.4 per cent. Growth this year slows to 0.5 per cent before the economy contracts by 0.2 per cent in 2027, including two quarters of negative growth in the first six months.

Inflation was last above that level in September 2023, when it was 6.7 per cent, having peaked at 11.1 per cent the year before. It fell to 2.6 per cent in June, the lowest reading since March 2025.

EY expects unemployment to rise to 5.3 per cent by the end of the year before falling over the following two years.

Peter Arnold, EY’s UK chief economist, said: “The UK economy has proved more resilient than many expected this year.

“Oil prices had started to fall back to pre-conflict levels and, while business and consumer confidence have softened, this decline remains less severe than the shock triggered by the 2022 energy crisis.

“Ongoing disruption to global energy markets will now start to test this economic resilience.

“If the Strait of Hormuz reopens in the coming months, we expect the UK to avoid a more pronounced downturn, but an extended closure into 2027 would raise inflation and could push the economy into contraction next year.”

Donald Trump, the US President, said on Sunday that he had held off on new air strikes against Iran after the “perimeters” of a deal had been agreed, including an immediate reopening of the Strait. Iran has not acknowledged any such agreement.

Escalating tensions recently took oil to $100 (£75) a barrel for the first time since May, with petrol reaching 160p a litre, its highest level since the fighting began in February.

Other forecasters have modelled a prolonged closure. In April, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research said a sustained blockade would take £35 billion out of UK output over two years and push inflation above 4 per cent.

Andy Burnham, who became Prime Minister in July, has made tackling the cost of living a priority for his first weeks in office.

Arnold said the economy was likely to become more concentrated on technology and services as construction continued to suffer.

“Rising project costs, persistent labour shortages and weak productivity growth risk constraining the delivery of major infrastructure projects at a time when demand remains high,” he said.

“Enhancing productivity in the sector will be critical if the UK is to deliver its infrastructure ambitions while supporting broader economic growth.”

EY’s forecasts were published alongside figures from the recruitment site Indeed showing that UK job postings have fallen by 13 per cent since the start of the year. Summer jobs were at their lowest level in four years and graduate roles at their weakest point since the pandemic. Posted wage growth was 3.9 per cent, the lowest annual rate since February 2022.

Indeed said 9.4 per cent of roles, almost one in 10, mentioned AI in the job posting.

Jack Kennedy, of Indeed, said: “The UK’s labour market is under sustained pressure. Hiring demand is falling across most parts of the economy, while posted wage growth is gradually cooling.

“That is particularly challenging for graduates and younger workers, who are competing for fewer opportunities to gain an initial foothold.”

Jamie Young

Jamie Young is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, covering SME finance, employment law and Westminster policy since 2016. He has reported on every Budget and Autumn Statement since 2018, helped make sense of the ‘covid era’ and the bounce-back loan scheme from launch through the fraud investigations, and broke the magazine’s coverage of the 2024 late-payment reforms. He joined Business Matters straight from completing his BA in Administration from Exeter University and is NCTJ-qualified. Reach him at jyoung@cbmeg.co.uk

Starbucks announced on Monday that its classic Pumpkin Spice Latte will be returning to store menus later this month.

The popular drink will be joined by new beverages and food items, as well as limited-time merchandise collections.

While the classic Pumpkin Spice Latte returns on Aug. 25, Starbucks will add new pumpkin spice-flavored drinks, including the Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso, Pumpkin Spice Chai and Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha. The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai and Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino blended beverage will also return.

STARBUCKS TO CUT 300 US JOBS, CLOSE SOME REGIONAL SUPPORT OFFICES

The Pumpkin Spice Latte is returning to Starbucks’ menu on Aug. 25. (Christina Tkacik/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

A new iced banana bread-flavored latte and chai drink will join the company’s fall menu, as will the Chaider – a beverage featuring a blend of chai and cider-inspired flavors.

A new Chicken Bacon Protein Pocket and a Hedgehog Cake Pop will also join store menus this fall. The protein pocket is the latest addition to Starbucks’ broader push to expand its protein offerings.

The new Chicken Bacon Protein Pocket contains 20 grams of protein. (Starbucks)

Starbucks is offering new drinkware and a hat as part of its PSL Society collection.

The announcement comes after the company reported third-quarter results last week.

SEATTLE COULD LOSE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS IN TAX REVENUE AS STARBUCKS EXPANDS IN TENNESSEE

Starbucks raised its annual sales and profit forecasts for the second time, as CEO Brian Niccol’s years-long turnaround efforts reignite demand at the world’s largest coffee chain.

Under Niccol, the company has aimed to improve customer experience through a simplified menu and shortened wait times, fueling four straight quarters of comparable sales growth.

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol’s turnaround plan is called “Back to Starbucks.” (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

“We have more work to do,” Niccol said in a statement on Wednesday, while finance chief Cathy Smith said the company is focused on what it can control amid a “dynamic operating environment.”

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The Seattle-based company forecast global same-store sales growth of near 6%, above its prior forecast of about 5% or above. It expects adjusted earnings per share to be between $2.55 and $2.65, compared with its previous forecast of $2.25 to $2.45.

“Starbucks has begun to experience market share stabilization in recent months, most notably with younger diners,” Consumer Edge analyst Michael Gunther said.

“Consumers may be shifting dining dollars toward in-home eating but are leaving room in the budget for daily drink habits,” he added.

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The “Back to Starbucks” strategy had been squeezing margins, as it involved heavy investments in staffing and store operations, which the company has looked to tackle with cost cuts through layoffs, office consolidation and streamlining its operations.

Reuters contributed to this report.

American consumers are continuing to face elevated beef prices amid an ongoing cattle shortage, which is also hitting the bottom line of major meatpacking companies.

The U.S. cattle herd is at its lowest level in over 70 years due to drought reducing forage areas in key ranching regions, which forced ranchers to liquidate cattle. 

Ranchers are also facing higher operating costs for feed, labor, fuel and equipment, while some live cattle imports have also been constrained due to concerns over diseases affecting livestock.

CATTLE HERD ‘FIX’ IS TAKING YEARS LONGER THAN PREDICTED, CEO WARNS AMID HISTORIC BEEF SHORTAGE

Beef prices have risen 11.8% over the last year and increased 1.2% on a monthly basis in June, according to the most recent consumer price index (CPI) data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ground beef prices were up 12.4% from a year ago, while beef roasts were up 13.8% and steaks were up 11.4% in that period.

Tyson Foods noted the challenges in its beef business in its earnings call Monday, with CEO Donnie King saying, “Beef hasn’t performed the way we expected, and we’re not pretending otherwise.”

U.S. cattle inventories are at their lowest level in over 70 years. (Angela Piazza/The Dallas Morning News)

He noted the “well-documented challenges of the current cattle cycle” and said that Tyson’s beef segment operated at a loss of $138 million with sales volume down 15.9% and pricing up 12.1% as “constrained supply pushed input costs and pricing higher.”

The Tyson Foods CEO also discussed the recent announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that it will resume imports of cattle from Mexico starting in late August for the first time in more than a year.

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Tyson Foods reported losses in its beef division, and the price surge caused by supply shortages turned consumers away. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Cattle imports from Mexico were suspended due to an outbreak of the New World screwworm, which poses a threat to domestic livestock. USDA’s monitoring has noted 44 cases of New World screwworm in the U.S. since June, with cases concentrated in Texas and New Mexico.

The USDA’s resumption of imports will be flexible and will start at the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry after the neighboring Mexican states of Sonora and Chihuahua have been identified as the lowest-risk Mexican states for the New World screwworm.

The agency cited those Mexican states’ “strong, well-established inspection programs” and geographic distance from southern Mexico, where most of the cases have been concentrated.

BEEF PRICES HIT RECORD HIGHS AS NATIONWIDE CATTLE INVENTORY DROPS TO LOWEST LEVEL IN 70 YEARS

King said the “recent announcement of a phased reopening of the Mexican border for the importation of cattle shows potential improvements to long-term cattle availability.”

“Although the reopening won’t have a material impact on the remainder of this fiscal year, which ends in September, it does provide the potential for some level of improvement in 2027 and beyond,” King added. 

“To be clear, the reopening of the Mexican border will not solve the entire gap of beef losses we are currently seeing. We are not waiting passively for the cattle cycle to turn, and we continue to focus on improving the variables within our control.”

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