Toby Keith Awarded Country Icon Honors

Country performer Toby Keith

Country's Toby Keith isn't letting his fight against stomach cancer slow him down.

On Thursday, Sept. 28, the 62-year-old Keith performed at the inaugural People's Choice Country Awards, where he was also honored with the “Country Icon” Award, awarded to him by Blake Shelton. After accepting the award, Keith performed his song “Don’t Let the Old Man In.”

"I'm working my way back into performing shape," Keith said earlier on the awards' red carpet.

The Tennessean reports Keith announced his cancer diagnosis in June of 2022, saying he had been receiving radiation, chemotherapy and surgery for six months. "I am looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later," he said via Instagram. "I can’t wait."

there wasn't a dry eye in the room while #PCCAs country icon @tobykeith performed "don't let the old man in." ❤️ watch the #PCCAs on NBC and @peacock! pic.twitter.com/GWZUcpq0om

— NBC Entertainment (@nbc) September 29, 2023

In November of 2022, Keith was awarded the 2022 BMI Icon Award at the BMI Country Awards, an event celebrating the songwriters and music publishers behind the 50 most-performed country songs of the year.

In June, he hosted a live auction as part of the 19th annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic weekend. His two-day hometown charity event raises funds for the Toby Keith Foundation's OK Kids Korral, a free lodging service for children and their families who are seeking cancer treatment in Oklahoma City.

"I'm feeling pretty good. ... I'm about another eight weeks from my last scan. So, I expect next time I look for that tumor to be even less — and I've only got one that's shown up," Keith told The Oklahoman in an exclusive interview this past June.

In September, it was announced that Keith would never stop writing songs. His latest album, 'Songwriter' is a collection of 13 originally written hits from his career. The new album will be available Nov. 3.