Randy Travis in surgery after suffering stroke, rep says

Randy Travis has had a stroke and was undergoing surgery at a Plano, Texas, hospital to relieve pressure on his brain, his representative said Wednesday evening. The singer remains in critical condition.

The stroke came as a result of Travis’ congestive heart failure, a condition that had landed him in the hospital Sunday.

“His family and friends here with him at the hospital request your prayers and support,” said rep Kirt Webster, who promised updates as they became available.

RELATED: Randy Travis’ career in pictures

The Grammy winner had undergone a procedure to implant a tiny pump in his heart to stabilize him to be moved from a Baylor hospital in McKinney, Texas, to the Heart Hospital Baylor Plano.

Earlier Wednesday, before Travis suffered the stroke, Dr. Michael Mack, director of cardiovascular disease at the Baylor Health Care System in Dallas, said that the singer’s “condition has stabilized and he has shown signs of improvement” since the transfer.

Travis had been in good health until three weeks previous, when he began fighting an upper respiratory infection, Webster said previously.

Follow Christie D’Zurilla on Twitter and Google+. Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter @LATcelebs and on Facebook facebook.com/ministryofgossip.