Toby Keith has died at the age of 62 years old, following a battle with stomach cancer.
Toby Keith Dies After Two-Year Cancer Battle
A representative for the country music icon shared the sad news with fans via a statement on his official website and social media profiles.
“Toby Keith passed peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family” a statement on his official social media read. “He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”
Stomach Cancer Diagnosis
He was diagnosed with stomach cancer in October 2022. In June of 2022, he revealed his diagnosis with fans on social media and was forced to cancel all of his scheduled concerts at the time.
“Last fall, I was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I’ve spent the last 6 months receiving chemo, radiation and surgery. So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover and relax,” the “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” singer revealed on social media at the time.
Toby Keith Was A Country Music Icon
With 32 No.1 singles and 40 million albums sold, Toby Keith was regarded as one of country music’s biggest hitmakers. He wrote a chart-topping hit every year for 20 consecutive years, including “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue (The Angry American),” “I Love This Bar,” “Beer For My Horses,” and “As Good As I Once Was.”
He was a recipient of the National Medal of Arts, was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (having already been inducted into the all-genre Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015), and was honored with the Academy of Country Music’s prestigious Merle Haggard Spirit Award.
Throughout his career, the Oklahoma native received the BMI Icon Award as well as the BMI Country Songwriter of the Year award three times, and his hit single “As Good As I Once Was” was awarded BMI’s Country Song of the Year in 2006.
His music has garnered more than 10 billion streams and 100 million terrestrial radio spins to date.
Keith’s most rewarding experiences, however, have come from giving back locally, nationally, and abroad. His annual golf classics fund the Toby Keith Foundation and OK Kids Korral, a cost-free home for families of children dealing with critical illnesses, and his 11 USO tours have enhanced the lives of nearly 256,000 troops and military families.
In 2014, he was given the Spirit of the USO Award for his work with the organization, which has so far included 11 tours and more than 285 events in over 18 countries. In an even more personal instance of philanthropy, he became the face of his hometown after it was ravaged by a tornado, shouldering the cleanup, and headlining the 2013 OK Twister Relief Concert.
Most recently, he was honored with the Country Icon Award at the Inaugural ‘People’s Choice Country Awards.
