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| country music legend Randy Travis |
Nearly two years after suffering a debilitating stroke, country music legend Randy Travis made a surprise appearance at the Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday, quietly standing as he acknowledged the thunderous applause from the audience.
Country star Lee Brice paid homage to the North Carolina native, 55, early in the show when he played a verse of Travis's hit "Forever and Ever, Amen," then shocked the audience when he introduced the recovering legend.
"That classic tune won song of the year in 1985 and the man who sang it has made an amazing comeback to be with us tonight. Ladies and Gentlemen, the great Randy Travis," Brice announced as the crowd broke out in prolonged applause.
Travis, who was seated in the audience, stood up and acknowledged the crowd with a little wave and several head nods.
"Randy's history with the ACM awards goes back over two decades," Mary Davis, Travis's fiancée said in a statement to PEOPLE. "With the awards in Dallas and celebrating 50 years, it's something Randy and I would not miss."
"Great to have you with us, Randy!" Brice added before presenting the song of the year award to Miranda Lambert for "Automatic."
Sunday's appearance was a rare one for the country legend, who suffered a stroke in 2013 following complications from viral cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure.
He underwent brain surgery and spent time in a physical therapy facility as part of his recovery.
Last year, Travis made another rare public appearance, this time at a Dolly Parton concert in Oklahoma, looking upbeat as he posed for a photo with the fellow country star.
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