This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/jul/11/stroke-randy-travis-critically-ill

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Randy Travis critically ill after stroke Randy Travis critically ill after stroke
(35 minutes later)
The Grammy award-winning country music star Randy Travis has suffered a stroke and needed surgery at a Texas hospital to relieve pressure on his brain, a spokesman for the singer said on Wednesday. The Grammy award-winning country music star Randy Travis has suffered a stroke and undergone surgery at a Texas hospital to relieve pressure on his brain.
The 54-year-old singer has been hospitalised in critical condition since Sunday. Travis was suffering from cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure when he was admitted, his doctors have said.
/>Cardiomyopathy weakens and enlarges the heart, making it difficult for the heart to pump and can lead to heart failure. 		The 54-year-old singer has been hospitalised in critical condition since Sunday. Travis was suffering from cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure when he was admitted, his doctors have said.

/>Kirt Webster, a spokesman for the singer, said family and friends were with him at the Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, located north of Dallas, and they requested the prayers and support of his fans. "As a complication of his congestive heart failure Mr Randy Travis has suffered a stroke and is currently undergoing surgery to relieve pressure on his brain. He is in critical condition," Webster said.
A six-time Grammy award winner, Travis is known for hits such as Forever and Ever Amen and Three Wooden Crosses – but more recently for a string of drunken indiscretions. Cardiomyopathy weakens and enlarges the heart and can lead to heart failure.
He was arrested in August 2012 for driving while intoxicated after walking into a store naked and trying to buy cigarettes, then crashing his car – he was found at the accident scene lying unclothed on the road. Travis later received a fine and probation. Doctors had earlier said the singer was responding to treatment three days after being hospitalised for a heart condition caused by a virus. One of his doctors said Travis had been in excellent health until three weeks ago when he developed a viral upper respiratory illness.
His publicist said on Tuesday that Travis had undergone a procedure to place a device in his heart to help it pump on its own.
A six-time Grammy award winner, Travis is known for hits such as Forever and Ever Amen and Three Wooden Crosses – but also for a string of drunken indiscretions in recent years.
He was arrested in August 2012 for driving while intoxicated after walking into a store naked and trying to buy cigarettes, then crashing his car – he was found at the accident scene lying unclothed on the road. Travis received a fine and probation.
The singer lives in the north Texas community of Tioga about 60 miles (100km) north of Dallas.