To country music star Randy Travis, the song "When Mama Prayed," from his 2002 album, Rise and Shine, is more than a little autobiographical.

Born in tiny Marshville, North Carolina, Travis lived a distinctively troubled youth. After dropping out of school in the ninth grade, he got into fast cars, drinking, and drugs, which led to a series of run-ins with the law. Violations like breaking and entering, larceny, carrying a concealed weapon, and drunk and disorderly conduct were sprinkled throughout the young Travis's police record.

"It was everything short of murder, to be honest with you," Travis, who turns 45 in May, says in his distinctive baritone. "When I give my testimony in church now, I often say, 'I've totaled four cars, two motorcycles, a horse and buggy, and I've been in at least 30 fights. I always walked away from it. I have no idea why I wasn't killed, except that I know God was looking out for me.'"

Indeed, God has been good to the singer. Billboard magazine said Randy Travis "almost single-handedly saved" the country-radio format in the 1980s. His 16 country albums have generated 15 number one singles, sold more than 21 million records, and garnered dozens of Grammys, Country Music Association awards, Dove Awards, and American Music Award honors.

His country songs—most of which have clean lyrics and moral themes—include the signature hits "Forever and Ever Amen" and "He Walked on Water."

Inspirational Journey, his first full-fledged gospel album from 2000, produced the instant classic, "Baptism." Travis's second gospel release, Rise and Shine, has sold 500,000 copies, and features the award-winning "Three Wooden Crosses." A parable about a farmer, teacher, hooker, and preacher, the song reached number one—the first Christian-label single to reach the top of the country charts.

Initially, though, the song received exposure only on small-market stations.

"Those stations started getting so much request that bigger stations began playing it," he says. "You think that's not God?"

Before "Three Wooden Crosses," Travis's last number one song came nearly a decade before. He credits God for his recent resurgence.

"When you look at country music as a whole, everything is down—ticket sales and record sales," Travis told Today's Christian from his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. "For me to still move the concert tickets and album sales here in America and Canada is pretty amazing. A Christian friend recently told me, 'You're experiencing the grace of God.'"

Experiencing God was the last thing on Travis's mind during his rebellious and violent teen years. Although he sometimes attended church as a youngster, Travis recalls "it didn't take." Instead, he succumbed to peer pressure, which eventually got him into big trouble.

At 18 and on the verge of going to prison, he was rescued by Elizabeth "Lib" Hatcher, then the manager of the Charlotte, North Carolina, nightclub where he often performed. Lib, who is now Travis's wife and manager, saw his musical talent and convinced a judge to give the reckless young man one last chance.

"Son, I'm gonna let you go one more time," the judge told Travis. "But if you ever appear before me again, you'd better bring along a toothbrush, 'cause you're gonna stay awhile."

Travis, a high-school dropout who had been using drugs and drinking daily since age 14, took the warning to heart.

Today, he credits Lib and an inexplicable interest in the Bible for turning him around. Ironically, the first stages of the singer's stardom emerged just as he was starting to consider God.