Tracy Morgan makes surprise return to the Emmys, cracks joke on stage

There were several grab-a-tissue moments at Sunday night'sEmmy Awards, but one of the most special parts of the show was the surpriseappearance of Tracy Morgan. The former 30 Rock star, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident that killed one of his friends last year, presentedthe last award of the evening and got a standing ovation from the audience.

Tracy Morgan and wife Megan Wollover Photo: Getty Images

Tracy, who was in a coma for eight days and was confined toa wheelchair for months after a June 2014 crash on the New Jersey Turnpike,walked out onto the stage unassisted. "Thanks to the amazing doctors andthe support of my family and beautiful wife, I'm here. Standing on my own twofeet," he told the crowd, which included former co-stars and friends suchas Tina Fey and Jane Krakowski.

The Saturday Night Live alum, 46, attended the prime-time televisionawards in Los Angeles with his new wife, Megan Wollover, and their daughter,Maven, 2, who looked adorable in a black dress with a feathered skirt andmatching cat shoes and bag.

Tracy Morgan, his daughter Maven and wife Megan Wollover Photo: Getty Images

"God bless all of you for your love, prayers andthoughts for the past 15 months," Tracy told the audience. "I'mhonored to be at the Emmys. It's been a long road back. I suffered a traumaticbrain injury that put me in a coma for eight days, and I finally regainedconsciousness. I was ecstatic to learn that I wasn't the one that messedup!"

Showing that he hadn't lost his characteristic sense of humor,Tracy, who'd clowned around with his family on the red carpet and displayed hisbelly for photographers, also said that he'd only recently begun to feel likehimself again, which he joked meant "a whole lot of women are gonna getpregnant at the afterparty!"

Tracy, who married Megan last month in an emotional ceremonyin New Jersey, is set to host Saturday Night Live on October 17. He posted a photo with Emmy winner Jon Hamm on Twitter after the award show, writing,"Man it feels good to be back!!! Love you all!"

He wasn't the only one to make a triumphant return to thespotlight. Sandra Lee, who has been battling breast cancer, walked the redcarpet in a pale pink gown with a plunging neckline on Sunday night.

Sandra Lee Photo: Getty Images

The TV chef, who was diagnosed earlier this year andunderwent a double mastectomy in May, had follow-up surgery last month forcomplications. She posted an update on her condition on Facebook on Sunday,writing that she was excited to be back.

The Food Network star explained that she needed a littletime to herself in the past few weeks because, "The lastinfection threw me a bit and I decided to focus and redirect all my energiesinternally. I physically and emotionally just needed to be silent and stillwhile I healed. This has been an unreal chain of events in my life. I am stillstunned, still digesting and still processing everything that has taken placethis past year."

Sharing a photo with her longtime partner, New York GovernorAndrew Cuomo, Sandra also revealed that she will be sitting down for aninterview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America next week.