Chuck Norris isn’t a singer, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t recorded a hit song during his career.
“[Fans] might not know I actually recorded the opening song for my television series Walker, Texas Ranger,” the actor, 85, shares exclusively in his 25 Things You Don’t Know About Me feature in the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now. “I wanted Randy Travis to sing the theme song, ‘The Eyes of a Ranger,’ but CBS insisted that I had to sing it.”
Norris reveals that it took him two days to record the series’ theme song, which he had to “rap in the style of Johnny Cash.” The Missing in Action star says he “even won an award” for singing the song.
“CBS was so excited that they booked me at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth, Texas, on New Year’s Eve to perform it live,” Norris explains while discussing his pet food and nutrition brand Lone Wolf Ranch. “There is an old saying that every singer wants to act and every actor wants to sing. Famous last words, because I’ve never been so nervous in my life.”
Keep scrolling for more personal stories from Norris, including his most valuable possession, where he keeps all his awards and black belts, and his favorite “Chuck Norris fact.”
- The ‘Chuck Norris fact’ that makes me laugh the hardest is: “Chuck Norris was bit by a king cobra and after five days of agonizing pain, the cobra died!”
- My entire service in the Air Force, from 1958 to 1962, was my proudest moment [in the military]. It helped give me direction and instilled discipline in my life.
- The name on my birth certificate is Carlos Ray Norris. “Chuck” was actually a nickname given to me in the military.
- I am not aware of any props I have from Walker, Texas Ranger, but I was given a Walker Mini Jeep that we use to this day to ride around our Texas ranch.
- It was at Osan Air Base in South Korea where I was first introduced to both judo and Tang Soo Do, a Korean martial art that has similarities to karate.
- I can’t say there was a single most difficult martial arts move for me because mastering anything is difficult, and it takes hard work and perseverance.
- Starting our nonprofit foundation and life mission, Kickstart Kids, with my wife, Gena, was the proudest moment of my career.
Chuck Norris. Tristar Media/Getty Images - If I had to pick a favorite principle from the Chuck Norris Code of Ethics, I’d pick the first one: “I will develop myself to the maximum of my potential in all ways.”
- At 85 years old, I can say I’ve accomplished more than I ever dreamed imaginable.
- Gena and I just started Lone Wolf Ranch, our pet food and nutrition brand, to give dogs the wholesome, nutrient-rich foods they naturally crave and rightfully deserve.
- My most valuable possession was a gift that I gave my mother when I was 11 years old. I saved up my money and bought her a framed portrait of Jesus.
- I did offshore powerboat competitive racing in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I broke a world record racing from Chicago to Detroit.
- I traveled twice to Iraq to see and encourage U.S. troops. Shaking hands with tens of thousands of these warriors was one of my greatest honors.
- I love spending time in my movie room, watching old Westerns with John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart and Audie Murphy.
Chuck Norris. Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic - My alternate profession would definitely be law enforcement. When I enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1958, I served as an air policeman.
- Any meal Gena makes is a comfort meal! My favorite is turkey meatloaf, mashed potatoes and okra. I [also] love vanilla ice cream.
- I keep all of my awards and black belts at home on our Texas ranch.
- I recorded the opening song for Walker, Texas Ranger. It took me two days to record and I had to rap it in the style of Johnny Cash.
- I used to patrol the streets of Wilson, Oklahoma, after school and collect pop bottles that I’d return to the grocer for a refund.
- A good workout or flurry of hits and kicks on my punching bag helps me unwind after a hectic day.
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- There was a movie theater in Wilson where, for a dime, I could spend all Saturday afternoon watching the double feature.
- I didn’t start out collecting challenge coins, but I’ve been gifted them by people who have served in law enforcement and the military.
- When I was growing up in Southern California, the couple that lived next door gave my brothers and me a chicken for Easter. We raised it until it was a hen. We named it Bitty.
- I love the joke: “Chuck Norris completed his bucket list when he was 14. He retired that year.” While I’ll never quit growing, my heart is in making a difference in others’ lives.
- We love going to the beautiful [Hawaiian] island of Kauai. We’ve been going there for the past 25 years and consider it a second home.
