Country music star Randy Travis is in Belfast to headline UTV's CountryFest 09 on Saturday and Sunday at the King's Hall.
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Travis is one of the top solo country artists of all time, having sold over 25 million albums.
He told The Seven Thirty Show he was looking forward to the Belfast gig.
"We've been touring for 24 years or so and it's been great. I enjoy doing what we do, there's nothing like it... that thing that happens with an audience. It's special," he said.
Travis had 22 number one hits, six number one albums, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
"I've been working before an audience since I was nine years-old", Travis told UTV.
At the time, he and his brother had their own duo playing throughout southern America.
"I can barely remember my life when I was not doing this, starting to learn guitar at eight. I was about 14 years-old and singing in clubs, when it was actually illegal to be there."
Along with his full-time music career, Travis also starred in many TV shows and films over the years.
He became a born-again Christian, after alcohol and drugs nearly ruined his health.
Travis opened the way for the new traditionalist movement in country music, releasing four Christian or Gospel albums.
"It's very important to me because of where I came from and the background I had."
"I was involved in drugs and alcohol and I was arrested for things like driving under the influence, breaking and entering and stealing cars. That was not a good lifestyle. And one night literally I started to read the bible and felt more at peace and came to know the Lord."
Other acts in this year's Countryfest line-up include music star Martina McBride and Ray Price.
An exclusive CountryFest Double Album CD will be released in support of the Meningitis Trust in Northern Ireland.
All the acts have been asked to take part in a project that is expected to raise thousands of pounds for the charity.
Tickets for the event are on sale priced at £40 for one day or £75 for a weekend pass.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster nationwide and regionally from Camerons Ballymena, The Waterfront Hall Belfast, The Music Shop Cookstown, The Music Centre Letterkenny, The Millennium Forum, Derry and the Strule Arts Centre Omagh.
© UTV News