The Oklahoma country songwriter sang “Don’t Let the Old Man In” at the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards
Toby Keith performed “Don’t Let the Old Man In” at the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards, marking his first live TV performance since being diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2021.
Keith, looking thin but strong, sang the ballad, which he wrote for the 2018 Clint Eastwood film The Mule, in a white cowboy hat, black jacket, and black jeans. “Bet you all never thought you’d see me in skinny jeans,” he joked, upon accepting the Country Icon award from Blake Shelton just prior to his performance. “I want to thank the almighty for allowing me to be here tonight. He’s been riding shotgun with me for a little while.”
In a red carpet interview prior to the People’s Choice Country Awards, Keith said his cancer battle compelled him to choose this particular song to perform. “Mainly because I’ve been going through my cancer fight the last couple of years and it’s really inspiring to a lot of people. Coming back on TV for the first time and performing live, I thought it was fitting,” he told Chuck Wicks.
The Oklahoma native also offered an update on his health, telling Wicks that he’s “feeling pretty good.” But, he acknowledged, “It’s a roller coaster. You just lean on your faith and lean into it, and you just do what’s next. Whatever next is. Everyday there’s a next, so you just do it.”
This past summer, Keith surprised fans over the July 4th weekend in Norman, Oklahoma, with a two-hour set of hits, including “American Life,” “Whiskey Girl,” “I Love This Bar,” and “Who’s That Man.” It was his first onstage concerts since revealing his diagnosis in 2022. In an interview with The Oklahoman in June, he was optimistic about returning to 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,” Keith said. “I’m ready. That’s living.”