Sharon Buck: Randy Travis’s Biggest Fan

If you want to know ANYTHING about Randy Travis, I'm the girl to ask! I've been in love with him since I was 12.

No joke.

And 'On The Other Hand' has a special place in my heart. Here's why:

When you're a 12 year old girl sitting up in your room listening to the Country Countdown at 8am on a Saturday morning just after you eat your Wheaties, you can't wait to hear the next new song that's out there. This is before we had cable and CMT, The Nashville Network and GAC were household names.

He debuted on the countdown. I can remember hearing Bob Kingsley introduce him as a newcomer. With the first words he sang, I was hooked.

And still am.

Ask anyone in the class of 1992 from Lawrence High School, especially, my friends Eric Brousseau and Carrie Corbeau. I was so crazy over him, for Christmas one year Santa brought me every item from the Randy Travis Fan Club. Including a coloring book.

I saw him in concert MANY years ago when he came with Tammy Wynette and Alan Jackson. I took pictures with my 110 camera. I still have them. But the best concert was just a few years ago.

At the Augusta Civic Center, Randy and I had the opportunity to host his show. We got to go back stage and before the concert I searched and found my Randy Travis Coloring Book. Standing in line waiting to meet him, I started to cry. I couldn't believe after all these years I was actually going to talk to him.

When we got up to him I held my composure pretty well. I asked him to sign my coloring book and he said "Oh my God, I haven't seen one of these in years. And that's my dog, Dog." He went on and on talking with me and finally his road manager had to tell him "Randy, you need to go on." He signed the book and we took a few pictures and we went to introduce him.

I walked out onto that stage clutching my coloring book. And I remember holding it high in the air and 5,000 people cheering I had been granted my wish. I was in the front row of that concert. I knew every word to every song.

That voice should be around for future generations. As he is recovering from brain surgery, I look at the internet every morning before I head to work to hear the latest news. My prayers are sent up each and every day for his recovery. Can't wait for the news that he has made a full recovery and that he's back on tour. We love you, Randy, and we're thinking of you!