Toby Keith Accepts 2023 PCCA Country Music Icon Award and Jokes 'Thought You'd Never See Me in Skinny Jeans'

Blake Shelton presented Keith, who is fighting stomach cancer, with the inaugural award at the 2023 People's Choice Country Awards

Toby Keith received the inaugural Country Music Icon Award at the 2023 PCCAs.

After a sweet video montage, Blake Shelton presented the "I Love This Bar" singer, 62, with the award, honoring him for his work as a musician, humanitarian and entrepreneur.

"Bet you thought you'd never see me in skinny jeans," Keith quipped, while accepting the honor. "I want to thank the almighty for allowing me to be here tonight. You've been riding shotgun with me for a little while."

After thanking his family, he showed his gratitude for his team noting that "a lot of people go into making a big career like this of 30 years."

"Most of all I want to thank the fans for still allowing us to do what we do," he added.

Following his speech, Keith performed his 2019 track "Don't Let the Old Man In," his first televised performance since revealing his stomach cancer diagnosis in June 2022.

Related: Country Star Toby Keith Reveals Stomach Cancer Diagnosis: 'I Need Time to Breathe'

Before the award show began, Keith spoke exclusively to PEOPLE about how he and Shelton, 47, are "kindred spirits" and what it meant to him to receive the award.

"A lot of people behind the scenes helped make this happen," he 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. It's pretty magnificent."

Keith has released a slew of hits throughout his career including “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “How Do You Like Me Now,” “As Good as I Once Was,” and “Beer for My Horse."

He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015, won the National Medal of Arts and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2021 and was named a BMI icon last year.

“We’re overjoyed to honor legendary artist Toby Keith with the first-ever Country Icon Award,” said Cassandra Tryon, senior vice president, entertainment live events, NBCUniversal television and streaming said of the honor. “As a talented songwriter and powerhouse performer, Keith has touched the hearts of fans across the globe. His illustrious career and passion for philanthropy has cemented his place as an icon in country music history.”

Keith, who has been dealign with stomach cancer since 2022, returned to the stage for a pair of surprise performances in July — his first since announcing his diagnosis last summer.

Related: Toby Keith Hopes to Be 'Out on the Road' This Fall as Stomach Cancer Tumor Shrinks by a Third

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In June, the country star told The Oklahoman he wants to tour by the end of the year — as long as he has the energy for a full-length show.

Keith hopes to be "out on the road this fall," he told the outlet, shortly before he ended up doing two pop-up shows.

He added, "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."

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