Nashville is mourning the loss of one of its most beloved storytellers. Don Schlitz — the Grand Ole Opry member, Country Music Hall of Famer, and pen behind some of the genre’s most enduring songs — has passed away, and country legend Randy Travis has offered a deeply personal tribute to the friend and collaborator who helped define his career.

In a statement released April 21, 2026, Travis reflected on a friendship that began at the very start of his rise to stardom, when Schlitz went to bat for the then-unknown singer to record “On The Other Hand.”

“As I try to write a proper tribute to Don Schlitz, I’m reminded of the genius that came with him in writing — he was always there to fill in the blanks or toss a #1 idea across the table to complete a story,” Travis shared. “Our cherished friendship began early in my career when Don mentioned to the label that he didn’t really want such a great written song like ‘On The Other Hand’ going to the new guy, Randy Travis! Other much bigger names had passed on it, and I told him I would do my best with it… It all turned out okay, as did several others that followed. We laughed about that for years!”

That wager paid off in ways neither man could have predicted. Together, Travis and Schlitz helped usher in the neotraditionalist movement of the late 1980s, their collaborations becoming the soundtrack to a generation of country fans. Chief among them: “Forever and Ever, Amen,” co-written by Schlitz and Paul Overstreet, a song routinely ranked among the greatest country recordings of all time by Billboard, Rolling Stone, the Grand Ole Opry, Apple Music, and SiriusXM.

Travis continued with words that capture what made Schlitz singular among Music Row’s great writers:

“Personally, Don was a dear and treasured friend. Professionally, he was a great catalyst in my career. Don could turn an ordinary moment in life into a lyrical masterpiece that filled our hearts and souls with happiness, hope, and healing. His legacy will be etched into the sands of time as one of the greatest wordsmiths of all time. Over the last several years, as Don became a member of the Grand Ole Opry and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, I smiled knowing that so many were already there, including myself, because of Don Schlitz — his dash is filled with the hymns of country music.”

Both men share membership in the Grand Ole Opry and inductions in the Country Music Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame — a shared resume that speaks to the creative symbiosis at the heart of their partnership.

Travis closed his statement with a message to Schlitz’s family and a farewell soaked in the kind of imagery only a lifelong friend could muster:

“Mary and I keep Stacey and the family in prayers of peace, understanding, and strength as they send the greatest of all time to the writer’s round in heaven. I love you, Don Schlitz — forever and ever, Amen! I’ll be seeing you ’round the bend, my friend. And, remember there’s a cup full of dimes on top of the Coke machine!!”

Revisit the song that bonded them forever — “Forever and Ever, Amen” — on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/track/0yEtToqGsMgbFQoYG8wGuw

Rest easy, Don. The writer’s round in heaven just got a whole lot sharper.