Alan Robertson Excited About Dad Phil's Duck Dynasty Return: Fans Have "Encouraged and Emboldened Us Greatly"

"We will continue to represent our faith and values in the most positive way through Duck Dynasty and our many projects that we are currently working on," the reality star added

We can already hear the celebratory duck calls.

A&E announced Friday that Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson will be returning to the show after a brief suspension from filming triggered by anti-gay remarks he made in a GQ interview, and his son, Alan Robertson, released an exclusive statement to E! News expressing the family's excitement over the network's decision.

"Our family has become even closer through the past 9 days and we are excited to keep making a quality tv show for our dedicated fans, who have showed us wonderful support," he began to state.

"We will continue to represent our faith and values in the most positive way through Duck Dynasty and our many projects that we are currently working on. The outpouring of support and prayer has encouraged and emboldened us greatly."

The network explained, "After discussions with the Robertson family, as well as consulting with numerous advocacy groups, A&E has decided to resume filming Duck Dynasty later this spring with the entire Robertson family. As a global media content company, A+E Networks' core values are centered around creativity, inclusion and mutual respect. We believe it is a privilege for our brands to be invited into people's home and we operate with a strong sense of integrity and deep commitment to these principals."

A&E, meanwhile, notes that Duck Dynasty "is not a show about one man's views. It resonates with a large audience because it is a show about family...a family that America has come to love."