Kellie Pickler Returns to Stage 14 Months After Husband's Death for Patsy Cline Tribute: 'He Is Here with Us Tonight'

Kyle Jacobs in February 2023 at age 49

Over year after her husband's death, Kellie Pickler has taken the stage for the first time for a powerful performance.

On Monday, April 22, Pickler, 37, was a part of a star-studded lineup of performers at Walkin' After Midnight: The Music of Patsy Cline at the Ryman Auditorium.

"I'd be lying if I didn't say I was incredibly nervous right now," Pickler said onstage, according Rolling Stone and USA Today. "It's the first time I've been up on stage in a while."

She performed "The Woman I Am," which she wrote with her late husband Kyle Jacobs.

"I know he is here with us tonight," she said.

More performers on the lineup included Sara Evans, Ashley McBryde, Mickey Guyton, Wynonna Judd, Kristin Chenoweth, Rita Wilson, Crystal Gayle, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo and more.

Related: Friends and Family Honor Late Kyle Jacobs in Private Ceremony: He 'Was a Lover of Life'

The event, which celebrated the life and music of Cline — who died in a plane crash in March 1963 at age 30 — also included opening remarks by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.

Pickler's return to the stage marked her first after Jacobs died by suicide in February 2023 at age 49.

In August, Pickler broke her silence with a statement to PEOPLE and thanked her fans for the continued support.

“One of the most beautiful lessons my husband taught me was in a moment of a crisis, if you don’t know what to do, ‘do nothing, just be still,'" she said. “I have chosen to heed his advice.”

“Thank you to my family, friends, and supporters, for the countless letters, calls, and messages that you have sent my way,” the country star and radio host continued. “It has truly touched my soul and it’s helping me get through the darkest time in my life. As many of you have told me, you are all in my prayers."

Related: Kellie Pickler Breaks Silence, Thanks Fans After Husband Kyle Jacobs' Death: 'Darkest Time in My Life' (Exclusive)

Then, in September, hundreds of people gathered at Franklin First UMC in Franklin, Tennessee to pay their respects to the late musician.

"While this celebration was long in coming, it was necessary for us, his parents, to cope with the shock of his passing, and to work through adjusting to this life without our beloved son. Thus, Kyle’s Celebration of Life was created and presented in a thoughtful and thorough way to best honor how Kyle lived his life," his family wrote in a press release.

The statement continued, "Kyle was a Lover of Life! He loved his family and his friends, and he earnestly showed love and brought joy to countless others he did not even know. Remembrances continue to come to us daily. He was known for his genuine, humble spirit and an ability to touch another person’s life in a moment."

Pickler and Jacobs began dating in 2008 and wed in a surprise ceremony three years later.

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