Country legend Toby Keith spoke about his cancer diagnosis ahead of receiving the Country Icon Award at Thursday’s People’s Choice Country Awards.
He also performed at the award ceremony, bringing his wife to tears.
Keith revealed last year that he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer in the autumn of 2021 and had been receiving treatment for months.
“Last fall I was diagnosed with stomach cancer,” Keith posted in June 2022 when he finally made his diagnosis public. “I’ve spent the last 6 months receiving chemo, radiation, and surgery. So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover, and relax.”
“I am looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can’t wait.”
“You get good days and, you know, you’re up and down, up and down. It’s always zero to 60 and 60 to zero but I feel good today,” Keith said.
He performed an electric “Don’t Let the Old Man In.” for the crowd.
Ahead of the proper award ceremony, Keith talked about the recognition.
“Those years of pounding those songs out there and remembering where you were when each one was conceived and all that, it’s amazing,” he said.
