Tracy Morgan Opens Up About “Overwhelming” Emmy Moment

The 67th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards had its fair share of surprises on Sunday night, but none bigger than the presenter for the evening’s final award, Tracy Morgan.

The 30 Rock star made his first public appearance on the Microsoft Theater stage since being involved in a multi-vehicle crash in June 2014, which led to months of rehab and treatment for a traumatic brain injury. Following the ceremony, Morgan opened up to reporters in the press room about what the moment meant to him.

“It was overwhelming,” Morgan said, fighting back tears. “I just had to not be so emotional in that moment and I just wanted to let [the attendees] know I missed them very much.”

Morgan credited television for helping him through his rehabilitation process. “Seeing my friends [on TV], I was coming back,” Morgan said. “It was bigger than TV for me at that moment because I wanted to walk my wife down the aisle with no cane.”

Morgan also thanked Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels for advice he gave him following the September 11 attacks. “He said, ‘You’ll get to the funny again,’ and we did that tonight,” Morgan said. “I just wanted to say to my parents, my comrades and the people in TV land, ‘Thank you very much.'”

Morgan’s comeback tour continues on October 17 when he returns to Studio 8H as SNL host.

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