Entertainment Music Country Music Miranda Lambert to Receive Country Icon Award at 2024 People's Choice Country Awards The award was previously given to the late Toby Keith during the inaugural 2023 People's Choice Country Awards By Ingrid Vasquez Ingrid Vasquez Ingrid Vasquez is a Digital News Writer at PEOPLE. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor in Journalism. Before joining the team, she worked as an Editor at FanSided and provided work in the celebrity and lifestyle space for brands that include Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, EW, and more. People Editorial Guidelines Published on August 22, 2024 08:30AM EDT Comments Miranda Lambert attend the ACM Awards at Omni Frisco Hotel at The Star on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas. Photo: Ayisha Collins/FilmMagic Miranda Lambert has officially reached icon status! The country music star, 40, will be honored with the country icon award at the 2024 People's Choice Country Awards, set to be hosted by Shania Twain and air live from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville on Thursday, Sept. 26. According to a press release shared with PEOPLE, Lambert will recieve the award due to her decades-long career, in which she’s "built an authentic, female-forward brand of country that has shaped the industry." "A tour de force in country music for more than 20 years, Miranda Lambert’s groundbreaking albums continue to capture the hearts of fans around the world. We’re so excited to celebrate her career, fierce individualism and innovation in the industry with the Country Icon Award," said Jen Neal, Executive Vice President, Live Events and Specials, NBCUniversal Entertainment in a statement. Miranda Lambert performs on stage during the 2024 Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame show at ACL Live on February 24, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Rick Kern/Getty Zach Bryan and Beyoncé Among Top Nominees for 2024 People's Choice Country Awards — See the Full List! Earlier this month, Lambert opened up about how she's embraced being a mentor for younger artists during an appearance on Bunnie Xo's Dumb Blonde podcast. "Since I don't have children of my own, I want to use that part of what I've learned for younger generations, especially of artists because nobody tells you how this goes," said Lambert. "Nobody sits there and gives you a handbook of, like, 'Well, when you make it to this level, this is what's gonna happen,'" she continued. "Just seeing the fire in the eyes of someone just starting out, it reignites your fire." The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Miranda Lambert performs onstage at rehearsals for the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards from the Ford Center at The Star on May 15, 2024 in Frisco, Texas. Christopher Polk/Penske Media via Getty Images While its been nearly two decades since the release of Lambert's debut studio album, Kerosene, the musician has no plans to slow down anytime soon. Miranda Lambert's Husband Brendan McLoughlin Got 'Misty-Eyed' When He Found Out She Recorded His Song 'Dammit Randy' Lambert announced in July that her next album, a 14-track project titled Postcards From Texas, will be released on Sept. 13. As for what fans can expect from the upcoming release, Lambert previously told PEOPLE that it is "very country." "I made this record in Texas. I hadn't made an album in Texas since I was 18. I went down to Arlyn Studios in Austin, and Jon Randall, who's my bestie and co-writer and co-producer, we worked together a lot," she told PEOPLE at the Lone River Collective event in Frisco, Texas, in May. Miranda Lambert attends the 65th GRAMMY Awards on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. John Shearer/Getty "Just going home to Texas to make it felt really right for this new season and this new chapter," continued Lambert. "I signed with Republic Records ... and this new team has just given me so much fire and inspiration, because it's all about the music with them." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards will air live on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT across NBC and Peacock from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. Close