‘Bet you thought you’d never see me in skinny jeans,’ the Clinton, Oklahoma native said. ‘I want to thank the almighty for allowing me to be here tonight. You’ve been riding shotgun with me for a little while.’

The Red Solo Cup artist sent his gratitude to his family and his camp, noting that ‘a lot of people go into making a big career like this of 30 years.’

The latest: Toby Keith, 62, brought his wife Tricia Lucus to tears during his acceptance speech for the first-ever Country Music Icon Award at the People’s Choice Country Awards amid his battle with stomach cancer

Lucus could be seen getting emotional while in the audience at the event at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee on Thursday

The I Love This Bar vocalist said, ‘Most of all I want to thank the fans for still allowing us to do what we do.’

Keith then performed his 2019 track Don’t Let the Old Man on the broadcast, which was his first performance on TV since going public with details of his health battle.

Keith told People prior to the show that the award marked a ‘pretty magnificent’ milestone in his life and career.

‘A lot of people behind the scenes helped make this happen,’ the Should’ve Been a Cowboy artist said. ‘Just seeing how enormous the career I amassed over 30 years when they show the video.

‘You know where you were when you wrote all those songs and you hear those numbers and it’s just like you looked up one day and all of a sudden 30 years went by.’

This past summer, Keith said he plans to tour this fall, as he continues to move in the right direction in his battle with stomach cancer.

‘I’m feeling pretty good,’ Keith told The Oklahoman at an event earlier this month prior to his Toby Keith & Friends Golf Tournament. ‘Basically, everything is in a real positive trend.’

‘You never know with cancer, so you have to prepare.’

‘Bet you thought you’d never see me in skinny jeans,’ the Clinton, Oklahoma native said at the event

The spouse of the country music stalwart was seen wiping tears from her eyes

Lucus applauded after her husband told the crowd: ‘I want to thank the almighty for allowing me to be here tonight. You’ve been riding shotgun with me for a little while’

Keith’s beaming spouse was seen cheering him on at the industry event

Keith first publicly opened up about his health battle in June of 2022, as he was initially diagnosed in autumn of 2021

The veteran entertainer and his spouse were enjoying the proceedings in Music City Thursday

Keith said he’s preparing to be ‘out on the road this fall’ as long as he feels strong.

‘I’ve got more wind,’ he said. ‘And I’m thinking about bringing the band in and setting up, playing two or three days somewhere just to see if I can get through two hours.’

He said that he had plans to get comfortable with the routine before hitting the road.

‘All I gotta do is see if I can get through two or three nights of work and get a little break in this chemo, and we’ll go back to work … I’m ready … that’s living,’ Keith said.

Keith told the paper that he remains receiving chemotherapy amid the health battle and that results have trended in the right direction, with blood tests showing better signs and the tumor he has a third smaller.

Keith said he was ‘about another eight weeks from [his] last scan,’ adding, ‘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 paper that he is undergoing immunotherapy treatment and making regular visits to a nutritionist.

Keith first publicly opened up about his health battle in June of 2022, as he was initially diagnosed in autumn of 2021.

The country music singer was presented with the honors by Blake Shelton

Keith then performed his 2019 track Don’t Let the Old Man on the broadcast

It marked his first performance on TV since going public with details of his health battle

Keith, speaking with CMT Hot 20 Countdown in November of 2022, said of a comeback: ‘I’m thinking about getting back in fighting shape – I need a little bit of time to just rest up and heal up.’

Keith spoke about his recovery after undergoing surgery, radiation and chemotherapy in fighting cancer.

‘It’s pretty debilitating to have to go through all that, but as long as everything stays hunky-dory, then we’ll look at something good in the future,’ Keith said.

Keith last year detailed his ongoing health battle, saying he needed time ‘to breathe, recover and relax.

‘I’ve spent the last six months receiving chemo, radiation and surgery,’ he said. ‘I am looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can’t wait.’

Keith later took to the social media site after he received kind words from his fans and followers, saying, ‘Thank you for all your love and support. I have the best fans in the world.’

Prior to announcing his diagnosis, Keith played in a February 2022 concert at San Antonio Rodeo; a May 2022 concert in Daytona Beach, Florida at the Heroes Honor Festival; and his 2022 Toby Keith and Friends Golf Classic in his native Oklahoma.

Keith and wife Tricia Lucus have been married since 1984 and are parents to three adult children, daughters Shelley Covel Rowland and Krystal Keith, and son Stelen Keith Covel. They have multiple grandchildren.

Keith, speaking with CMT Hot 20 Countdown last year, said of a comeback: ‘I’m thinking about getting back in fighting shape – I need a little bit of time to just rest up and heal up’

The country music artist first publicly opened up about his health battle in June of 2022, as he was initially diagnosed in autumn of 2021

To mark Giving Tuesday, Keith shared a shot of himself with a young cancer patient as part of his Toby Keith Foundation, a children’s cancer charity he’s ran since 2006

Keith in June of 2022 took to Instagram to announce that he had received the cancer diagnosis the previous fall

In November, Keith was at the 2022 BMI Awards in Nashville, where he was presented with the BMI Icon Award

In November, Keith was at the 2022 BMI Awards, where he was presented with the BMI Icon Award, as performers including Carrie Underwood and Eric Church delivered musical tributes to the country stalwart.

He also made an appearance at Lexington, Kentucky’s Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse, where he sang the tracks I Love This Bar and Sweet Home Alabama.

To mark Giving Tuesday last year, Keith shared a shot of himself with a young cancer patient as part of his Toby Keith Foundation, a children’s cancer charity he’s ran since 2006.

‘Thumbs up if you’re celebrating #GivingTuesday by donating to the @tkfoundation1!’ he said. ‘Your donations make the OK Kids Korral possible, a home away from home for children battling cancer and their families.’