Randy Travis ailing, prayers from fans

Singer Randy Travis has had it tough in the personal health department. The relatively young man (54) is battling a bad heart and complications from a stroke.

He underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his brain Wednesday evening, his publicist said.

"Mr. Randy Travis is out of surgery and in critical condition," the hospital website announced Wednesday night.

The stroke is "a complication of his congestive heart failure" for which he is being treated at The Heart Hospital at Baylor Plano in Texas, Kirt Webster said in a press statement.

"We will have updates as they become available," Webster said.  "His family and friends here with him at the hospital request your prayers and support."

Travis was hospitalized Sunday at Baylor Medical Center at McKinney, Texas, "with a presumptive cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure," Dr. William Gray said.

Doctors implanted a device in his heart to help blood flow. The singer "underwent the placement of an Impella peripheral left ventricular assist device for stabilization prior to transferring hospitals," Travis spokesman Kirt Webster said in a written statement Tuesday.

Travis' setback was due to "viral cardiomyopathy," Webster said.

Travis' song "Three Wooden Crosses" won song of the year in 2003 from both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.

As one of country music's top-selling artists, Travis has won seven Grammys, 10 Academy of Country Music awards and 10 American Music Award statuettes.