Randy Travis awake after stroke The Grammy Award-winning "Three Wooden Crosses" singer checked into the hospital on July 7 after a viral illness affected his heart. Randy Travis, in 2010, at the annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas Doctors said Travis has a seriously weakened heart - a condition called cardiomyopathy - that the viral infection apparently made worse. However, he doesn't have an active heart infection, and doctors said long-term, he should be able to manage his weakened heart with medication. Dr. Michael Mack, a cardiac surgeon and medical director of cardiovascular disease at Baylor Health Care System in Dallas, said Travis' heart no longer needs a small pump to help control blood flow. Mack said echocardiograms indicated the heart problem was not caused by drug and alcohol abuse. "Mr Travis does have a family history of cardiomyopathy and it is more likely related to that," Mack said. Randy Travis - Heroes And Friends (Videos) on MUZU.TV. Travis has had troubles with alcohol recently and pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated in January following an accident last August. He received two years of probation and a $2,000 fine. He was required to spend at least 30 days at an alcohol treatment facility and complete 100 hours of community service. Before falling ill with a viral upper respiratory illness, he'd recently made several public appearances, including a spot on the Country Music Association Festival's nightly concert lineup and a poignant performance at George Jones' funeral. Travis was admitted to Baylor Medical Center McKinney near his home in Tioga, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) north of Dallas, and was transferred to The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano after doctors stabilized his heart with the pump. As doctors removed the pump, he had the stroke, Mack said. The North Carolina-born Travis is a traditional country purist known for hits "Forever and Ever, Amen" and "I Told You So." His 1986 Warner Bros. debut album "Storms of Life" sold 3 million copies, and helped return country music to the sound of Hank Williams and George Jones. It also made Travis and his mellow baritone a star, leading the way for other artists from Alan Jackson to "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery.