By Movieguide® Staff
Country music artist Tracy Lawrence reflected on the ways a 1991 mugging affected him over the years.
“I got mugged,” the singer said during a 2025 conversation with Clint Black. “A friend of mine had come through town. We’d gone out to celebrate, and were pulling up into the Shoney’s parking lot over there, and three guys…I opened the car door with a pistol in my face.”
Lawrence’s friend was “able to get away,” but he was shot four times and had to undergo surgery to remove the bullets from his knee and hip.
“I was angry back then,” Lawrence told Fox News. “I didn’t get the mental help that I needed. I’m much more aware of the consequences, whether it’s, you know, if you go through a physical altercation or family trauma or whatever those things are.”
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He continued, “I’m a big believer in taking care of your mental health these days, and I didn’t do that at the time. That was a very traumatic experience for me. I just suppressed it and shoved it down, and it caused me a lot of problems in my personal relationships, problems in my career.”
Through it all, Lawrence leaned on his love of music and God, explaining, “I’m blessed that I found something like this that I’m so passionate about in life that I’ve been able to enjoy for the better part of my life.”
“I’ve had a roller-coaster relationship with my Creator more than once,” he continued. “I still have the highs and lows of it. I’m still a struggling Christian, and it’s something that I counsel with my pastor on a regular basis about. But I know that God’s always there.”
Lawrence said, “He’s had his hand on me since I was a little child…I feel very blessed to have them in my life. It’s definitely had an impact on my relationship with God.”
The country singer has previously spoken about his strong faith, telling “Jesus Calling” about the importance of prayer in his life.
“I pray every day,” Lawrence shared. “I pray when I’m driving in my vehicle when I’m going down the road…I’ve seen it affect our everyday lives. My wife’s a prayer warrior, she’s on it every day. She gets up every morning. She is very engaged.”
He continued, “I’ve seen the effect that has had on our family. I’ve seen the peace that it’s given to me and everybody around me. Prayer is just an essential part of life. If you don’t have prayer in your life, I think you’re missing the whole picture. I have that relationship with my Maker and I talk to Him every day. It’s a very special relationship.”
Lawrence’s mugging changed his life, from teaching him the importance of taking care of your mental health to strengthening his faith.
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