Back in June 2022, the country singer, 61, revealed to fans that he was takingtime away from musicto receive chemo, radiation and surgery after being diagnosed with stomach cancer in fall 2021.
In anupcoming interviewwithCMT Hot 20 Countdown— which marks his first since he revealed his diagnosis — Keith said that he’s optimistic about his future, stating, “I need a little bit of time to just rest up and heal up.”
“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,” he continued.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
In his summer post, Keith shared on Instagram, “I’ve spent the last six months receiving chemo, radiation and surgery. So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover and relax.”
“I am looking forward to spending this time with my family,” he continued. “But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can’t wait.”
In a follow-up post, Keithhonored his supporters, writing, “Thank you for all your love and support. I have the best fans in the world.”
Want to get the biggest stories fromPEOPLEevery weekday?Subscribe to our new podcast, PEOPLE Every Day, to get the essential celebrity, entertainment and human interest news stories Monday through Friday.
The restaurant’s ownershared an imagefrom the performance on social media, praising Keith for battling cancer and returning to the stage.
Days later, Keithwas celebratedwith the BMI Icon Award at the 2022 BMI Awards, and was honored with tribute performances from artists likeCarrie UnderwoodandEric Church.
He shared that the most recent donations will go to the OK Kids Korral, “a cost-free, convenient and comfortable home for pediatric cancer patients receiving treatment” thathe foundedin 2014.
source: people.com
