By Annie Reuter
Randy Travis surprised ACM Awards viewers last night (April 19) during a surprise appearance after a 2013 stroke that has since rendered him unable to speak. After Lee Brice performed Travis’ hit “Forever and Ever, Amen,” he introduced the singer.
Travis then stood and waved to the crowd and received a standing ovation.
Related: Randy Travis Makes Appearance at Texas Benefit
Travis has been away from the spotlight other than a few appearances since his stroke.
After his appearance last night, he wrote a heartfelt letter to fans on his website, titled Storms of Life.
“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,” he wrote. “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.”
Related: ACM Awards 2015 Recap
He added a hopeful note about his future in music: “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.”
See the full letter below.
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”
from Radio.com http://ift.tt/1IxnYr4
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