Garth Brooks helped pay tribute to Randy Travis last week when he was awarded the CMT Artist of a Lifetime Award, and now Randy is returning the favor.

Randy penned a heartfelt note to Garth posted to Facebook, writing, “When my last silent prayer is said, I’ll thank God for Garth Brooks in my life.”

Randy notes, “Garth Brooks came along right behind me and kept cheering me on as he climbed his own ‘taller’ mountain! I’m so glad one was near the other,” adding, “I’m on the other side of my mountain, so we don’t see each other as much; but, never a day goes by that I doubt Garth is still there for me — telling the world now, what he told me back then.”

Finally Randy shares, “Thank you, Garth, for the time you always take from your climb, to check on me and share your kind words with the world about what I meant to you. I may have helped bring our genre back to life, but you taught it how to live!”