Singer Randy Travis has pleaded not guilty to the charge of simple assault at a Plano courtroom yesterday (Dec 21).

The Grammy-winning country star is accused of getting caught up in a dispute between his girlfriend Mary Beougher and her estranged husband, whilst outside Prestonwood Baptist Church in Texas this August. All three were arrested on the scene, with Travis taken in on class C assault charges, a misdemeanour.

Travis, who received an increasing amount of bad press in the build up to this particular case, had only one comment to give outside the courtroom yesterday, addressed to his fans. He said: "Don't believe everything you see and hear. Merry Christmas, have a happy and healthy New Year. God bless."

Approximately two weeks prior to being cited for simple assault, Travis was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated after state troopers said they found him naked in his vehicle following a one-car accident. He was also accused of becoming combative and threatening the troopers' lives at the scene of that crime. Prior to that incident, Travis was also arrested in February this year on another count of public intoxication after police responded to a call alerting them to Travis, who was found sat in his vehicle at a Sanger church parking lot.

Travis will next appear in court on March 11 at 8 a.m.