Miranda Lambert was honored by her fellow Texan Parker McCollum as she accepted the Country Icon Award at the People’s Choice Country Awards ceremony in Nashville on Thursday night (Sept. 26).

“Miranda never had to chase a trend because she is a bada–,” McCollum said as he introduced her. “I’ve been lucky enough to open some shows with Miranda and write and record with her.”

McCollum is Lambert’s collaborator on “Santa Fe,” one of the tracks on her newest album, Postcards From Texas.

“If there was ever a person to have in your corner or to crack a cold one with, it’s my Texas sister,” he added.

After a montage video showing highlights of Lambert’s career through the years — from her earliest live moments to her recent Las Vegas residency and more — the superstar herself took the stage.

Wearing a leather and fringe ensemble and a black cowboy hat, Lambert beamed at the crowd as she performed her early-career hit “Kerosene” and her new song “Dammit Randy.” The latter comes off her Postcards From Texas album, and she has said the song was inspired by her decision to leave her longtime label home, Sony.

Read More: Miranda Lambert’s “Dammit Randy” Has a Very Special Co-Writer

As she accepted her trophy from McCollum, Lambert joked, “We got matching black hats on and everything.”

“It’s a lot of years, beers, tears and Tito’s, if I’m being honest,” the singer went on to say, as she turned toward the crowd. “I feel like I’ve gotten to make so many great memories in my life and my career because of fans … some days I feel like I’ve done it 200 years and sometimes I feel like I’m just getting started.”

She wrapped her speech by thanking God, her family and the country music industry, before telling the crowd that’s she excited for the chapter ahead.

The Country Icon Award recognizes an artist’s longstanding musical authenticity and long, dominant country career. The first iteration of the trophy was first presented to Toby Keith at the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards ceremony in 2023.

The 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards aired on NBC, and took place at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry.