Nick Cannon feels "blessed" to have wife Mariah Carey in his life.

The America's Got Talent host was hospitalised over the holidays for mild kidney failure.

Mariah actively supported her husband throughout his illness.

Nick appreciates Mariah's efforts to help him get well.

"It is truly, truly a blessing to be here tonight, and I am humbled and in awe of everyone's presence, but mostly my hero right there," Nick said onstage at the 2012 BET Awards Honours taping that took place in Washington D.C. on Saturday.

Mariah stayed by her man in the hospital and also tended to his needs when was discharged.

"When times are hard, you guys don't see her at three o'clock in the morning, getting up in the middle of the night, fixing me soup when my kidneys ain't acting right," Nick gushed to the audience. "What most people don't get the opportunity to experience is the true woman; the virtuous person who is my angel."

Nick was released from hospital last week. The presenter is recovering and resting before he returns to work tomorrow.

Mariah and Nick have nine-month-old twins Monroe and Moroccan together.

The pair have been married since April 2008.