Country Hitmaker Clay Walker to EP and Star in First Feature from Sacred Arthouse
Announcement Celebrated During a Special Evening at the Grand Ole Opry on March 5
Video + Still Assets Below
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 5, 2025) – Veteran film producer Eric Groth (Ethan Hawke’s “Wildcat”) and writer/director Andrew Hyatt (“Paul, Apostle of Christ” from Sony Pictures) of Sacred Arthouse and Zach Dasher and Korie Robertson of Tread Lively, the team behind the record-breaking film “The Blind” and upcoming series “Duck Dynasty: The Revival” together announce the new film “Forever And Ever, Amen” about the life of music legend Randy Travis. Andrew Hyatt will direct off of his own script. Travis and his wife Mary Travis will executive produce, alongside country music star Clay Walker. “Forever And Ever, Amen” marks the first film for Sacred Arthouse.
“Forever And Ever, Amen” is currently being cast by Anne McCarthy, Kellie Roy, and Morgan Robbins at Engine Casting and production has established that Randy Travis will be played by three actors of different ages. Country star Clay Walker will play Travis in his 40s and 50s in addition to serving as Executive Producer. Engine Casting is on the lookout for young actors to play a young Randy Travis around 9-12 years old and another at 20-30 years old–the search should net two new rising stars.
“We’ve been approached many times through the years about doing a movie… but the timing or team has never felt quite as good as it feels right now. With Clay on our side, and the creative direction he and the producers have, I feel good about telling my story through this medium,” said Randy Travis.
“Randy Travis is the voice of a generation and one of the greatest country singers of all time. I am truly honored to be a part of this project, and cannot believe I get to play one of my heroes,” said Clay Walker.
Much of the success of modern country music can be traced to one man: Randy Travis. His arrival signaled the start of the “new country” sales explosion of the 1990s. Travis is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame with 23 #1 worldwide hits, 7 Grammy Awards, 11 ACM Awards, 10 American Music Awards and 5 CMA Awards. The film’s titular song “Forever and Ever, Amen” earned CMA awards as Single and Album of the Year when it debuted in 1987. It went on to be certified quintuple platinum. Almost 12 years ago, Travis suffered a debilitating stroke but he continues to release original music with the aid of new technologies.
On March 5, the Grand Ole Opry played host for the announcement of the biopic alongside performances by friends of Randy Travis’ including Clay Walker, Collin Raye, Lady A, James Dupré, and more. The evening opened with Travis’ friend and mentee, Dupré, introducing his mentor during an emotional rendition of “Where That Came From,” featuring Travis’ vocals on half of the song – evoking a standing ovation from the audience. Clay Walker capped off the night following his own hits with Travis’ iconic “I Told You So,” reintroducing Travis and his wife Mary to make the announcement of the movie in development. The evening closed out with Walker performing Travis’ iconic “Forever and Ever, Amen” which included a special “amen” from Randy Travis himself at the end.
OPRY ASSETS:
Video (courtesy of Grand Ole Opry): dropbox.com/scl/fi/eavgb57hu5jtrhtu54pgy/Randy-Travis-Movie-Intro.mp4?rlkey=mavcuj5b5sfwnixev9rm4kto4&st=l5x3viqr&dl=0
Stills (courtesy of Cole Prine and Dawson Skinner): dropbox.com/scl/fo/y5d481wcyrgaiseixfoon/ADUqnOI1WDjSyyy_bkbVrqw?rlkey=8st5w341c90q1adddfruag434&st=tlzzgk8g&dl=0
About Randy Travis
With lifetime sales exceeding 23 million, Randy Travis is one of the most successful multi-genre artists of all time and a 2016 inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1986. His accolades include seven Grammy Awards, 11 Academy of Country Music Awards, 10 American Music Awards, two People’s Choice Awards, seven Music City News Awards, eight Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association and five Country Music Association Awards. Three of his performances earned CMA Song of the Year honors: “On the Other Hand” (1986), “Forever and Ever, Amen” (1987), and “Three Wooden Crosses” (2002). To date, he has 23 No. 1 singles, 31 Top 10 hits, and more than 40 appearances in feature films and television shows. His discography includes four Gold albums, four Platinum albums, one Double Platinum album, one Triple Platinum album, and one Quintuple Platinum album. In 1992, Travis was recognized by the USO for his support and dedication to US Troops, including five USO tours, and was named the recipient of the Bob Hope Entertainment Award. In 2004, Travis was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is celebrated on Nashville’s Music City Walk of Fame. Since his near-fatal stroke in 2013, Travis, with the support of his wife Mary and rigorous physical therapy, has made significant strides in his recovery, including improvements in speaking, walking and singing. In 2019, he released his critically acclaimed memoir Forever and Ever, Amen, co-authored with Ken Abraham. In 2021, CMT named Travis the CMT Artist of a Lifetime. In 2022, he released his award-winning documentary More Life garnering six Telly Awards. In May 2024, With the assistance of AI, Travis and Warner Music Nashville released “Where That Came From,” marking his first new recording in over a decade, showcasing his signature vocals. The single debuted at No. 45 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, receiving an enthusiastic reception from both fans and country radio and has led to Travis and his wife advocating for creators’ rights in Washington D.C and beyond. For more information, visit RandyTravis.com.
About Clay Walker
Clay Walker stands as a towering figure in country music, his illustrious career marked by multi-PLATINUM sales, 11 chart-topping hits and 40 singles on the charts. His songs, including classics like “If I Could Make A Living” and “She Won’t Be Lonely Long,” resonate deeply, etching his name into the fabric of the genre. In 1996, Walker faced a new battle with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), but rather than yielding to its challenges, he emerged as a fierce advocate and fundraiser, establishing the Clay Walker Foundation to support those affected by the disease. Each year, the Clay Walker Charity Classic at Pebble Beach shines a light on his tireless efforts, raising awareness and funds for MS research. His latest album, Texas To Tennessee, produced by industry heavyweights Michael Knox and Jaron Boyer, soared to No. 1 on the iTunes Country Album charts. Drawing inspiration from legends like George Jones, James Taylor and Bob Seger, Walker’s music transcends generations, earning him a well-deserved place among country music royalty. A member of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, Walker continues to captivate audiences nationwide, gracing stages from coast to coast with his electrifying performances, showcasing his unwavering passion for music and advocacy. He plans to release new music throughout 2025. For more information and to stay up-to-date, visit ClayWalker.com.
About Sacred Arthouse
Co-founded in June 2024 by veteran film producer Eric Groth (“Wildcat”) and writer/director Andrew Hyatt (“The Blind”), Sacred Arthouse exists to artfully tell stories that resonate with the human experience by honoring the true, inspiring the good and celebrating the beautiful.
Eric Groth is co-founder, with writer/director Andrew Hyatt, of Sacred Arthouse. Groth has spent the last 20 years in film production, including founding ODB Films in 2005. As president/executive producer of ODB Films, Groth produced more than 250 short films, two award-winning feature films (“Full of Grace” and “Paul, Apostle of Christ”) and a docuseries (“Restored: Stories of Encounter”).
“Full of Grace” was the winner of ‘Best Screenplay’ at the 2015 John Paul II International Film Festival, and the winner of ‘Best Feature Film’ at the 2016 Gabriel Awards.
“Paul, Apostle of Christ” was released by Sony Pictures/Affirm Films in 2018, starring Jim Caviezel and James Faulkner. The film was made for a modest $6M budget and grossed more than $26M worldwide at the box office. It has been included in multiple lists of the top biblical films of all time. The film was nominated for ‘Most Inspirational Film’ at the 2018 GMA Dove Awards, ‘Most Inspiring Film’ at the 2019 MovieGuide Awards and received a prestigious Christopher Award in the Feature Film category at the 70th Annual Christopher Awards in 2019. Previous winners include Steven Spielberg, Danny Boyle, and Ken Burns.
In September 2020, Groth helped launch Renovo Media Group, an Iowa-based film and television studio and was the executive producer of the company’s first feature film, “Wildcat,” written, directed, and produced by Ethan Hawke, and starring Maya Hawke, Laura Linney, Philip Ettinger, Rafael Casal, Steve Zahn, Cooper Hoffman, Willa Fitzgerald, Alessandro Nivola, Liam Neeson and Vincent D’Onofrio. The film premiered at 2023’s Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and Zurich Film Festival. It is distributed domestically by Oscilloscope Laboratories and internationally by Radiant Films.
Andrew Hyatt is co-founder, with producer Eric Groth, of Sacred Arthouse. Hyatt is the award-winning writer/director of the historical dramas “Paul, Apostle of Christ” and “Full of Grace” and the award winning thrillers “The Last Light” and “The Frozen.” Hyatt’s “All Those Small Things” premiered at the 2021 Seattle International Film Festival, and the historical biopic “Sight” starring Greg Kinnear and Terry Chen was the winner of ‘Best Cinematographer,’ ‘Best Actor,’ and ‘Best Feature Film’ at the 2022 ICVM Crown Awards, and ‘Best Narrative Feature’ at the 2023 Heartland International Film Festival.
Hyatt’s film “The Blind” released in more than 1,700 theaters in September 2023 and set the all-time box office record for Fathom Events. It landed a 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes after its theatrical run.
Hyatt’s passion is in the creation of content that is deeply personal – seeking to tell stories that delve deeper into the drama of the human condition, exploring good and evil, truth and beauty. “Paul, Apostle of Christ” was released by Sony Pictures/Affirm Films in 2018, starring Jim Caviezel and James Faulkner. The film was made for a modest $6M budget and grossed more than $26M worldwide at the box office. It has been included in multiple lists of the top biblical films of all time. Hyatt’s film “Full of Grace” is the first film in history to focus on the final days of Mary of Nazareth. Released by Cinedigm in January 2016, the film has been screened all around the world and praised for its unique insight into the humanity of often generically portrayed historical figures. Hyatt has been credited with paving the way towards a new genre of films termed “Sacred Arthouse.”
Hyatt has appeared in numerous national magazines, radio programs, and panels to discuss his approach on filmmaking. “Full of Grace” was the winner of ‘Best Screenplay’ at the 2015 John Paul II International Film Festival, and the winner of ‘Best Feature Film’ at the 2016 Gabriel Awards. For “Paul, Apostle of Christ,” Hyatt was awarded a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ from the National Catholic Museum of Art in Washington, DC and the film was nominated for ‘Most Inspirational Film’ at the 2018 GMA Dove Awards and ‘Most Inspiring Film’ at the 2019 MovieGuide Awards. Hyatt also received a prestigious Christopher Award in the Feature Film category at the 70th Annual Christopher Awards in 2019. Previous winners include Steven Spielberg, Danny Boyle, and Ken Burns.
Hyatt is an alum of Loyola Marymount University and is represented by Heroes and Villains Entertainment and attorney Matthew Wallerstein.
About Tread Lively
Founded in 2019 by Willie and Korie Robertson and Zach Dasher, Tread Lively is a full-service entertainment and media company focused on film, television, podcasting, and digital platforms. Projects include record-breaking feature film The Blind, award-winning podcasts WHOA That’s Good, Unashamed with the Robertson Family, and Duck Call Room, and television shows Duck Dynasty: The Revival and Duck Family Treasure. The Tread Lively team has produced and delivered hundreds of millions of podcast downloads and more than 2 billion views and is focused on creating content that is faith- and family-friendly and uplifting to culture. Website: treadlively.com.
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