Lee Brice took the stage during the 2015 ACM Awards and sang a chorus of Randy Travis' hit "Forever and Ever, Amen," before giving the crowd a big surprise.

"That classic tune won Song of the Year in 1985. The man who sang it has had an amazing comeback to be with us tonight," Brice said. "Ladies and gentleman, the great Randy Travis."

Travis stood to a thundering applause. Although still unable to speak, he waved and smiled as he the crowd cheered.

"Randy well knows Song of the Year," Brice added. "Randy got to share that honor three separate times."

Travis suffered a stroke in 2013. As of last year, he remains unable to speak, but his family members remain optimistic about his recovery.

“He’s getting his voice back now, little by little,” Travis’ father, Harold Traywick, says. An undisclosed source added that Travis is “anxious to get back to work and connect with his fans” and that his “doctors are extremely pleased with his progress.”

Travis' fiancee, Mary Davis, says that the Grand Ole Opry member is making steady progress.

“He’s starting to write,” she reveals. “He signed some guitars with his left hand. So Randy Travis has a new autograph!

“He wakes up with a smile on his face; he goes to bed with a smile on his face. He inspires me daily,” she continues. “There’s never that, ‘Why me Lord?’ It’s always, ‘Why not me, Lord?’”

Travis’ latest album, Influence Vol. 2: The Man I Am, is available for purchase here.

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