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“It’s pretty magnificent,” the iconic country singer-songwriter, whosefamily confirmed that he died at age 62 on Monday nightafter beingdiagnosed with stomach cancerin the fall of 2021, told PEOPLE during his final interview with the brand at the 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards in September.
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During the event, which he andWynonna Juddwere the main honorees for their historical contributions to country music,Blake Sheltonpresented the “I Love This Bar” singer with the inaugural country music icon award.
Keith, who had “known [Shelton] forever,” was in good spirits about receiving an award from the man whose career he supported from the start.
“I took him out when I first got headliner status early on and I was his first big tour he got. He lived in Oklahoma, so we’re kindred spirits, a lot alike. We have fun together,” he added.
Keith’s acceptance of the award, and subsequent performance ofhis 2019 track “Don’t Let the Old Man In"live at the show, was a landmark one for the artist as it was his first televised performance since his stomach cancer diagnosis.
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Marking his return to the Grand Ole Opry with the PCCAs performance, which was his last time stepping on that legendary stage before his death, Keith told PEOPLE he enjoyed “just seeing everybody.”
“It’s real festive and it’s always fun, these things,” he added.
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Ahead of the PCCAs, Keith alsoperformed two shows at the Hollywood Corners barin Norman, Oklahoma, on June 30 and July 1, which was his first time playing live since his diagnosis.
He noted that doing the shows, which took place in his home state “was fun,” adding, “I’d been off the road and I didn’t know how much wind I had. I didn’t know how my diaphragm was, and so I just got up and did a couple of big shows to see what I could do and I got through them fine.”
source: people.com
