Toby Keith has died, his official website and social media accounts stated early Tuesday (Feb. 6), 18 months after he first revealed he had stomach cancer. He was 62.
Keith died Monday night surrounded by his family, a short statement said. “He fought his fight with grace and courage,” it added.
Keith announced that he was living with cancer in June 2022 and in September last year, he spoke of the “roller coaster” experience of going through treatment.
“You get good days and, you know, you’re up and down, up and down. It’s always zero to 60 and 60 to zero but I feel good today,” Keith stated ahead of receiving the Country Icon Award at the People’s Choice Country Awards.
I will never forget the CD I received back in 1993. The sampler contained Mercury Records Triple Play with John Brannen, Shania Twain and a new guy from Oklahoma named, Toby Keith.
The sampler contained three songs from each artist. Keith’s contribution to the CD were “Wish I Didn’t Know Now,” “He Ain’t Worth Missing” and a song he wrote in a motel bathroom in Dodge City, Kansas, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.”
That song would become his first #1 hit on the country charts. A fete he would repeat over 30 more times.
Keith affected the country airwaves with hit songs like “As Good as I Once Was,” “Who’s Your Daddy?” and “Good as I Once Was.” And his patriotic side was revealed on songs including “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” and “American Soldier.”
Keith continued to record and perform through his fight, appearing live over three nights in Las Vegas in December.
“3 sold out shows in Vegas was a damn good way to end the year,” he wrote on Instagram.
In June 2022, Keith said he had been receiving chemotherapy, radiation treatment and surgery. He told the Oklahoman newspaper last year that the tumor had shrunk by a third.
Toby Keith will be missed by many country music fans, including this one. His music, his personality, and what he stood for will never be forgotten. R.I.P Toby Keith and thank you for sharing 30 years of your music. Today we lift our Red Solo Cups in your honor.
