Troubled country star Randy Travis is heading to trial after pleading not guilty to simple assault following an alleged bust-up in Plano, Texas this summer.

The singer was reportedly trying to defend his fiancee after she became embroiled in a dispute with her estranged husband outside a church on Aug. 24 when police officials were called to the scene.

The 53-year-old singer was cited with the misdemeanour charge, but on Friday he appeared in court and denied any wrongdoing.

The case will now go to trial in March, reports TMZ.

August was a tough month for Travis - he also hit headlines when he crashed his car in the Southern state while driving intoxicated, shortly after he was seen wandering around naked inside a convenience store.

However, Travis is trying to turn his life around following a troubled 2012 - his lawyer recently revealed the star has quit drinking and is now in "the best shape of his life."