In an interview with CMT Hot 20 Countdown, country music star Toby Keith spoke about his battle with stomach cancer, saying that the treatments have been “debilitating” but that he is now “thinking about getting back into fighting shape.” Keith announced in June that he would be taking time off to undergo chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery for his cancer. He made a surprise performance at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse in Lexington, Kentucky, in November and was honored with the BMI Icon Award at the BMI Awards.

“Last fall I was diagnosed with stomach cancer,” Keith shared in June. “I’ve spent the last 6 months receiving chemo, radiation, and surgery. So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover, and relax.” In his interview with CMT Hot 20 Countdown, Keith said, “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.”

Keith has been hinting at his return to the music industry in recent months by appearing publicly more often. In November, he surprised fans at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse with a performance of songs like “I Love This Bar” and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama.” He was also honored with the BMI Icon Award at the BMI Awards, where artists like Carrie Underwood and Eric Church sang a tribute for him.

Earlier this week, Keith posted a photo on Instagram with a young cancer patient, writing, “Thumbs up if you’re celebrating #GivingTuesday by donating to the @tkfoundation1!” The photo showed Keith and the patient giving a thumbs up, both smiling. Keith has sold over 40 million albums and is known for hits like “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” and “A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action.” Fans will be eager to see him back on stage and performing again.