Multi-platinum-selling country singer Toby Keith has died at the age of 62, roughly 18 months after revealing his battle with stomach cancer.
The singer was surrounded by his family when he passed away “peacefully” from cancer, representatives confirmed on Feb. 5.
It is not immediately clear if he was at home or in hospital at the time of his death.
“Toby Keith passed peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family. He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time,” a statement posted to Mr. Keith’s website said.
News of his death was also shared on his social media channels.
Mr. Keith is survived by his wife, Tricia Lucas, and their three children and four grandchildren.
The country superstar had a career that spanned over three decades, having initially shot to fame with the release of his self-titled debut album in 1993 which featured the chart-topping hit “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.”
Later albums included “Blue Moon”, “Pull My Chain,” and “Unleashed,” and spawned hits including “Red Solo Cup,” “I Wanna Talk About Me,” and “Who’s That Man.”
However, Mr. Keith’s 2002 song “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American),” which aired in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks made him a household name.
In 2017, he performed at the Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial prior to President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Country Star Reveals Stomach Cancer Diagnosis
In January 2021, the singer was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Trump at the White House alongside fellow country star Ricky Skaggs.
More recently, Mr. Keith performed at the 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards late last year where he received the Country Icon Award.
News of the Oklahoma-born singer-songwriter’s death comes after he first revealed his stomach cancer diagnosis in 2022.
In a statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, Mr. Keith said he had first been diagnosed in the fall of 2021.
“I’ve spent the last 6 months receiving chemo, radiation, and surgery,” he said in the June 12 post. “So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover, and relax.”
The singer added that he is “looking forward to spending time with [his] family,” adding that he “will see the fans sooner than later.”
‘Cancer Is a Roller Coaster’
Shortly after the post, it was announced that one of his upcoming concerts at the Ohio State Fair in July had been canceled.
Earlier this month, the country superstar touched on his stomach cancer battle in an interview with 9News where he shared that his faith had helped pull him through multiple rounds of surgery and chemotherapy.
“Cancer is a roller coaster, so it’s like, you just sit here and wait on it to go away, and it may not ever go away,” he said. “If it goes into remission, it will still be in the back of your mind. You take it for granted on the days that things are good, and you lean on it when days are bad,” the singer continued. “It has taught me to lean on a little more every day.”
A longtime advocate for people facing a cancer diagnosis, Mr. Keith set up the Toby Keith Foundation in 2006 to help children battling cancer.
According to its website, the foundation has “streamlined its efforts around no-cost housing for children with cancer,” and in 2014, opened “OK Kids Korral,” which it describes as a “cost-free, convenient and comfortable home for pediatric cancer patients receiving treatment at The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, and other nearby facilities.”
“There is no greater gift than keeping families strong and together during a difficult time,” a statement on the foundation’s website reads. “If we can alleviate stress on a family, encourage a brother or sister, and comfort a sick child, then we will make a difference in the fight against cancer.”
The foundation also confirmed Mr. Keith’s passing in a similar statement on Monday, noting that he had fought his fight against cancer with “grace and courage.”
Lorenz Duchamps contributed to this report.
From The Epoch Times
