Country music singer to play Randy Travis in upcoming biopic

Country music singer Clay Walker will portray Randy Travis in an upcoming biopic.

PEOPLE reports Walker will be one of three actors that play the musical icon at different stages of his life.

“Forever and Ever, Amen,” named after Travis’ signature hit and his 2020 memoir,” is currently in production as a theatrical release.

The announcement was later made public on Wednesday night from the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.

Walker, Travis and his wife Mary Travis are executive producers. Andrew Hyatt wrote the script and will direct.

“I’m so glad that this story is going to get told because it deserves to get told,” Walker, 55, told PEOPLE.

Walker and Mary Travis, Randy Travis’ wife, promise the movie won’t sugarcoat any of the trials.

“He had bumps and bruises and rough spots,” Mary Travis told PEOPLE. “But Randy never, ever ran from those, and he never denied them. He accepted them. He learned from them. He moved on, and he used them as an inspiration for others.”

Randy Travis, 65, lost the ability to speak and sing after suffering a stroke in 2013.

“(Moviegoers) are going to find out the deep struggles that he had,” Walker told PEOPLE. “I look at Randy’s life, and I see redemption. This is a man who’s overcome all those challenges. He’s survived it all. Everybody knows that golden voice of his, but I think this movie is going to endear him to people in a whole new way.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.