Randy Travis, whose ability to speak was significantly impaired by a stroke in 2013, has returned to the music scene with his voice replicated through artificial intelligence for a new song, marking his first release in over ten years.

In a recent interview on CBS Sunday Morning, Travis, along with his producer Kyle Lehning, his wife Mary, and Cris Lacy, co-chair and co-president of Warner Music Nashville, discussed the creation of “Where That Came From,” which debuted last Friday. The complete segment is scheduled to air this Sunday.

Lehning explained that the initial vocals were recorded by another artist, and then combined with a digital clone of Travis’s voice. The identity of the other vocalist has not been disclosed as of the release of this news.

“It’s more about the feeling than the sound,” Lehning shared with CBS, emphasizing the importance of Travis’s involvement in the creative decisions.

The track “Where That Came From” was penned by noted country songwriters John Scott Sherrill and Scotty Emerick, and was previewed on YouTube. Emerick himself released the song on his EP “Headwinds (The Demo Sessions)” last year.

Since his debilitating stroke in 2013, Travis has released two albums featuring pre-recorded covers and has made occasional live appearances to perform the concluding “amen” of his iconic song, “Forever and Ever, Amen.” His latest release is among the first commercial songs to utilize AI-cloned vocals, highlighting a significant technological advancement in the music industry. Over the past year, the conversation around AI in music has intensified, with artists, labels, and legislators examining how to best manage the technology to safeguard the rights and likenesses of creators.

Cris Lacy noted the negative perceptions surrounding AI, telling CBS, “We started thinking, ‘What could AI mean for us?’ And the first idea was giving Randy Travis his voice back.”

The use of AI in the creative process has been recognized as potentially beneficial, provided there are adequate safeguards. For instance, artist FKA Twigs testified before a Senate judiciary panel this week about her use of an AI deepfake to interact with fans online, allowing her to concentrate on her music.

However, controversies have arisen when artists are not directly involved and their work is used to train AI models without their consent. An example of this occurred last year when a songwriter known as “Ghostwriter” released “Heart on My Sleeve” with AI-generated vocals of Drake and The Weeknd, leading to a legal challenge from Universal Music Group.

Recently, a dispute arose over Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle” which incorporated AI vocals of Tupac, resulting in a cease and desist from Tupac’s estate for misuse of his publicity and rights. Drake removed the track following the legal action.

As Travis’s song introduces AI vocals in a new light, questions about copyright, attribution, and licensing remain. This pivotal moment could potentially shape future discussions on the ethical use of AI in music.

Lacy emphasized, “Randy’s presence is felt, even if it’s through AI vocals. Denying him the chance to make music, if he desires to do so, is utterly wrong.”

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