Randy Travis Makes Surprise Appearance at ACM Awards, Writes Heartfelt Letter To Fans

There were quite a few surprises during Sunday night’s 50th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, but nothing topped the surprise fans got when Randy Travis made an appearance on the screen. The country legend, who suffered a stroke nearly two years ago, was introduced by hitmaker Lee Brice, who sang several lines of the song “Forever and Ever, Amen” before introducing Travis.. Fans erupted with applause at the sight of the singer. Although he’s unable to speak in the aftermath of the stroke, the look on Travis’ face when he heard the fans go wild said it all. He nodded to acknowledge the love he was feeling from the 70+ thousand fans at AT&T Stadium.

Following his appearance on the show, Randy Travis took to his website to pen a heartfelt letter to his fans.

Hello, my friends. It was an amazing gift to feel all the love from you in Dallas at the Academy of Country Music Awards. It has been a hard-fought and miraculous journey since my stroke two years ago, and I have gained a greater understanding of God’s grace, and how quickly events can change us.

Words can never express my gratitude to those who continue to believe in me, pray for me and keep me lifted up in thought and deed. The kind cards and heartfelt letters of testimony and encouragement brought me through the darkest of days. Mary read each and every one of them to me, and I felt the love and concern being sent my way; and, I gathered strength from this. None of us are worthy of the immense outpouring of support shown to me, and I consider each of my fans, a friend. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

The power of music remains a source of inspiration and healing for me. Writing songs was always a passion of mine, and I still have a lot to share with you. It is my prayer that, with continued healing, one day soon, I will be back on that stage exchanging music with my fans … my friends, who with God’s amazing grace, have brought me this far. As I work through music/speech/occupational/physical therapy, it is my hope that my songs of yesterday continue to touch your life in some way.

I wish you each — good health, a kind word, a song in your heart, and a friend that has your back trough thick and thin.

My gratitude & love, “Forever and Ever, Amen”

The 55-year-old was accompanied by his fiancée Mary Davis, who has remained by his side through his medical troubles.

“Randy’s history with the ACM awards goes back over two decades,” Davis, Travis’s said in a statement to PEOPLE. “With the awards in Dallas and celebrating 50 years, it’s something Randy and I would not miss.”