A country music legend was sadly lost, after 62-year old singer Toby Keith, lost his battle with stomach cancer.
Keith passed away peacefully during the evening of February 5th, surrounded by his close loved ones.
“He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time,” a message posted on his social media platforms read.
Keith was born Toby Keith Covel in Clinton, Oklahoma, in 1961.
Keith is survived by his wife, Tricia Lucas, and their three children; daughters Shelley Covel Rowland, fellow singer Krystal Keith and son, Stelen. He also had four grandchildren.
During his illustrious career, Keith sold over 40 million records. In December 2023, he performed his final shows, a three day stint in Las Vegas.
Earlier this month, Keith opened up and shared his long battle with stomach cancer. He explained how he was first diagnosed in 2021.
“I was going through all the chemo, radiation, surgery, and I got to the point where I was comfortable with whatever happened. I had my brain wrapped around it, and I was in a good spot either way,” Keith said. “My wife has been the best nurse, helping me handle my health, and giving me great support.”
“The first time we went to Houston, to the hospital, she stepped right in and she just took control and said, ‘We got this. Let’s go.’ So she’s like, ‘We’re going to get this and don’t worry about it,” he added.
Keith met his wife in an Oklahoma nightspot in 1981 when he was 20 and she was 19. They dated for three years before marrying in 1984. At that point, Keith adopted Tricia’s daughter from a previous relationship, Shelley.
Their daughter Krystal came along in 1985 followed by son Stelen in 1997. When they married, Keith was still struggling to make it as a country music singer, he credited his wife with standing by him during those times.
Keith also mentioned that his Christian faith is what was helping him through his cancer battle.
“Finding peace through the lord has helped me immensely. Cancer is a roller coaster. You just sit here and wait on it to go away, but it may not ever go away,” Keith said.
Keith worked as a roughneck in the oil fields of Oklahoma as a young man, then played semi-pro football before launching his career as a singer.
Keith learned good lessons in the booming oil fields, which toughened him up, but also showed him the value of money.
“The money to be made was unbelievable,” Keith said. “I came out of high school in 1980 and they gave me this job December of 1979, $50,000 a year. I was 18-years old.”
Keith spent a couple seasons as a defensive end for the Oklahoma City Drillers, a farm team for the now-defunct United States Football League. But he found consistent money playing music with his band throughout the red dirt roadhouse circuit in Oklahoma and Texas.
Through his music and other ventures, Keith was bringing in $50 million per year. His ventures included a stake in Big Machine Records, the Nashville-based company that signed Taylor Swift in 2005.
As a young artist, Keith asked to be let out of his contract with Mercury Records when executives didn’t like his album, How Do You Like Me Now? because they thought women would view the title track’s lyrics as disrespectful.
But How Do You Like Me Now? went on to attain gold status, selling more than 500,000 units, and Keith went on to sell 25 million albums for his new label, Dreamworks.
Keith did not speak publicly about his cancer battle until 2022.
The multi-platinum-selling singer said on Twitter that he underwent surgery and received chemotherapy and radiation in the past six months.
“‘So far, so good,” said Keith. “I need time to breathe, recover and relax. I am looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can’t wait.”
He added that he would continue with the chemo and that his tumor had shrunk by a third and that his blood tests have looked good.
In 2006, Keith set up a foundation to help children battling cancer.
In addition to his music and charitable works, Keith was also known for his often outspoken political beliefs.
Following September 11th, Keith recorded the song Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue, which prompted both widespread praise and intense backlash.
“It wasn’t written for everybody. And when you write something from your heart. I had a dad that was a veteran, taught me how precious our freedom is. I was so angry when we were attacked here on American soil that it leaked out of me,” Keith said in a 2003 interview regarding the track.
“You know, some people wept when they heard it. Some people got goose bumps. Some people were emotionally moved. Some cheered, turned their fists in the air,” he added. “I don’t apologize for being patriotic.”
