Randy Travis' road to recovery from a 2013 stroke took another positive step on Nov. 22 in Fort Worth, Texas - and so did his friendship with fellow country star Joe Nichols. Travis made a surprise appearance at Nichols' concert at Billy Bob's Texas, CMT reported.
Standing on the side of the stage, Travis watched as Nichols performed Travis' song "Promises."
The two country performers became close when they recorded "Tonight I'm Playin' Possum" on Travis' 2013 album, "Influence Vol. 1: The Man I Am," according to Taste of Country. The song honors George Jones.
Listen to Travis and Nichols' duet here:
Travis is being seen more and more in public as his recovery progresses. Once confined to a wheelchair for mobility, Travis' fiancée, Mary Davis, says the country legend can now walk up to 300 yards unassisted, Taste of Country reported.
Another sign that Travis continues to battle back is that he is beginning to work on new music. He still struggles with aphasia, as he works to talk and understand the words coming out. But the music is helping.
"The music does come easy," Davis explained. "He plays every single chord and he knows all the words."
Back in September, Davis revealed, "Every day we go to speech therapy and physical therapy and occupational therapy. We're learning words and phrases; learning to sing. Of course, the music and the songs come easy for him ... he's working on it. He's got the heart of a warrior, and he doesn't stop."
It's clear Travis' "heart of a warrior" is pushing him to get better and better. No doubt Nichols realized the power of that heart as he looked at Travis on the side of the stage.
"He's gonna be back. He loves music too much," Davis said.
