TravisMichael Ray, Randy Travis and Julie Ulmer, Cracker Barrel Sr. Marketing Manager
Images for Gratis Use – Credit: Tori Leggett for Cracker Barrel

Cale Dodds, Morgan Evans, Tegan Marie, Michael Ray, and Cole Swindell brought things to an exciting end as they closed out night three at the Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater.

Saturday night was made even more memorable by the presentation of the inaugural Cracker Barrel Country Legend Award to the one-and-only Randy Travis, an honor given to country musicians with over 30 years in the business including past partnerships with Cracker Barrel’s music program. Storme Warren of SiriusXM’s The Highway presented Travis with the special award. Cracker Barrel also made a $5,000 donation in Travis’ name to the CMA Foundation. To further celebrate the evening’s big honoree, Michael Ray performed a moving rendition of Travis’ hit song “Forever and Ever, Amen” during his set.

“Randy is so honored to receive the first ever Cracker Barrel Country Legend Award at CMA Fest 2018. Music education, in Randy’s opinion, is pivotal to a child’s development, so we thank Cracker Barrel for joining us in this passion by donating to Keep the Music Playing in his name,” said Mary Travis. “They could have picked any number of country icons for this award, so being chosen as the first is truly humbling.”

This night also marked the close of Cracker Barrel’s Rock With Us fundraiser, where every photo taken in a Cracker Barrel Old Country Store rocker at the festival and shared on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #CBMusic between June 7 and June 9 resulted in a $1 donation from Cracker Barrel to the CMA Foundation, culminating in a $15,000 donation from the brand.

About Randy Travis   With lifetime sales in excess of 25 million, Randy Travis is one of the biggest multi-genre record sellers of all time and a recent inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame class of 2016. His honors include seven Grammy Awards, 10 Academy of Country Music statuettes, 10 American Music Awards, two People’s Choice awards, seven Music City News awards, eight Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association and five Country Music Association honors. In addition, three of his performances earned CMA Song of the Year honors: “On the Other Hand” (1986), “Forever and Ever Amen” (1987) and “Three Wooden Crosses” (2002). To date, he has 18 No. 1 singles, 29 Top-10 smashes and more than 40 appearances in feature films and television shows to his credit. Ten of his albums are Gold Records. Eight are Platinum. Two have gone Double Platinum. One is Triple Platinum and another is Quintuple Platinum. In 2004, Randy was honored with his own star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is honored on the Music City Walk of Fame in Nashville, TN. He has been a member of the cast of the Grand Ole Opry since 1986. In 2017, Randy was honored with a wax figure at Madame Tussauds™ Nashville. Since his near fatal stroke in 2013, with the help of his wife Mary and rigorous physical therapy, Randy continues to make improvements in his speaking, walking, and yes, singing. For more information please visit randytravis.com.

About Cracker Barrel:   Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRL) shares warm welcomes and friendly service while offering guests quality homestyle food and unique shopping – all at a fair price. By creating a world filled with hospitality and charm through an experience that combines dining and shopping, guests are cared for like family. Established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn., Cracker Barrel and its affiliates operate 653 company-owned Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® locations in 45 states and own the fast-casual Holler and Dash® restaurants. For more information about the company, visit crackerbarrel.com.

theadminAwardsCMA Music FestivalPress ReleaseCMA Music Festival,Country Roads Stage,Cracker Barrel Country Legend Award,Julie Elmer,michael ray,Randy Travis
Michael Ray, Randy Travis and Julie Ulmer, Cracker Barrel Sr. Marketing Manager Images for Gratis Use – Credit: Tori Leggett for Cracker Barrel Cale Dodds, Morgan Evans, Tegan Marie, Michael Ray, and Cole Swindell brought things to an exciting end as they closed out night three at the Cracker Barrel Country Roads...