Country Music Legend Toby Keith Passes Away After Battle With Cancer
Toby Keith, the beloved country music star, passed away on Monday night at the age of 62 after a lengthy battle with stomach cancer. Now, new details have emerged about his death.
Keith had privately battled stomach cancer for months and announced his diagnosis back in 2022. He had been been receiving chemo, radiation and surgery in an effort to fight the disease. According to his website, Keith.com, he passed away peacefully and surrounded by family.
“Last fall I was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I’ve spent the last six months receiving chemo, radiation and surgery. So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover and relax,” Keith said at the time, according to an article from Entertainment Tonight.
Throughout his battle with cancer, Keith consistently leaned on his Christian faith to give him strength and hope.
“I lean on my faith and I just pray and lean into it,” Keith said. “You gotta’ do what you gotta’ do, and I don’t know how people do it without faith … that’s what I did, it was my rock.”
After revealing his battle with cancer, Keith was focused on spending time with his wife Tricia Lucas and their three children. He remained optimistic and expressed his hopes that he would be able to return to performing soon.
“I feel pretty good,” he told E! News. “It’s a little bit of a roller coaster. You get good days and, you know, you’re up and down, up and gown. It’s always zero to 60 and 60 to zero but I feel good today.”
Though he was a registered Independent, Keith performed at the inauguration of Donald Trump back in 2017. Despite receiving backlash for this from the left, Keith refused to apologize for his performance.
Keith shared his views of faith and patriotism in a People Magazine article, expressing his pride in his family’s strength and faith in God.
“Everybody in the family is good,” he said at the time. “I was raised by good parents and I have great kids. They don’t have any issues at all — none.” He added that “They all grew up with me being successful, but they are not hooked on that part of the business.”
In regard to his political views, Keith has performed for several presidents from both major parties. Reflecting on his performance at Trump’s inauguration and his decision not to apologize for it, Keith said, “I don’t apologize for performing for our country or military. I performed at events for previous presidents [George W.] Bush and [Barack] Obama and over 200 shows in Iraq and Afghanistan for the USO.”
This passage reflects his loyalty to country over politics and his steadfast support for the men and women of the U.S. military. He was proud to represent his country and to provide entertainment for service members serving overseas.
Despite his passing, Keith remains a true legend, and there will never be another one like him. His music has touched the hearts of millions, and he will be remembered for his contributions to American culture for generations to come. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.
