• Toby Keith, the country music icon, has succumbed to stomach cancer at 62.
• He had been diagnosed in 2021 and underwent treatment for six months before revealing his diagnosis to the public.
• See the photos of his life before and after his diagnosis.

On the evening of February 5, 2024, the world lost a music legend, Toby Keith, to stomach cancer. The Oklahoma native, renowned for his chart-topping country songs like “How Do You Like Me Now?” and “As Good As I Once Was,” was 62.

His passing sent shockwaves through the global music community and his fanbase, who had been closely following his career and battle with cancer. A statement on Keith’s Instagram page confirmed his peaceful passing in the presence of his loved ones.

The message highlighted his brave and dignified battle with the disease, reading, “He fought his fight with grace and courage.” The family also requested that the public respect their privacy during this sorrowful period.

Keith’s musical talent started to manifest at a young age. In a video he shared on social media, he recalled the first song he ever wrote at the tender age of 14 or 15, titled “If You Had an Out of Heartache.” Admitting it wasn’t very good, he noted that it was well-structured and received positive feedback from his local community.

This started a prolific songwriting career, with over 5,000 songs to his name. In 2014, Keith’s philanthropic side came to the fore when he established The Toby Keith Foundation.

According to the foundation, it provides cost-free housing to children battling cancer and their families during treatment. Their bio on Instagram states that the foundation “exists to encourage the health and happiness of pediatric cancer patients and to support OK Kids Korral.”

Keith publicly announced his stomach cancer diagnosis in June 2022 via Instagram. He shared that he had been undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery for the past six months and was taking time to recover and spend with his family.

Despite his health challenges, he remained optimistic about returning to his fans. He wrote, “So far, so good. 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. -T”

One of Keith’s last major performances was at the 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards in September. He delivered a rendition of “Don’t Let the Old Man In,” which stirred his fans’ emotions. A fan noted with concern, “Yall see him shaking? He fought hell to sing that song. And he nailed it.”

Another replied to the fan, attributing the shaking they may have noticed to “Medication side effects or nerves…or both.” A third fan agreed wholeheartedly, adding, “100% agree. God bless Toby Keith.”

Throughout this poignant performance, his wife Tricia was visibly moved, her eyes welling up with tears as she watched from the audience. Keith was honored with the Country Icon Award at the same awards ceremony.

Despite his health struggles, he delivered a light-hearted and emotional acceptance speech, joking about his skinny jeans and expressing gratitude to the Almighty. “I bet you never thought y’all’d see me in skinny jeans,” he quipped.

He also thanked his supportive family, management team, band, and musicians who contributed to his albums over his 30-year career. In an exclusive interview in June 2023, Keith expressed optimism about his health, saying, “I’m feeling pretty good.”

He revealed that he was eight weeks post his last scan and was hopeful that his sole tumor would have further reduced by his next check-up. Despite the unpredictability of cancer, Keith was in high spirits, feeling healthier and more energetic.

He even contemplated reuniting his band for a few days of performance to test his stamina for a two-hour set, with plans to return to touring in the fall if successful.

Keith spoke about his health journey in the lead-up to the People’s Choice Country Awards. He described it as a roller coaster of good and bad days but remained optimistic, noting that his tumor had shrunk by a third since his diagnosis. That day, he felt good and appreciated the recognition of his three-decade-long career, which he described as “mind-boggling.”

He was proud of his songwriting skills, saying, “Those years of pounding those songs out there and remembering where you were when each one was conceived and all that, it’s amazing.”

Keith continued to make public appearances, attending the Nashville Songwriter Awards and performing shows in Las Vegas in December. After one of his shows, he wrote, “It was a triumphant return. One hell of a night in Vegas. Ready to do it all over again tonight.”

After his Las Vegas performance, he was surprised by Pandora backstage as they gave him a Triple Billionaires Plaque to celebrate his catalog, hitting three billion streams on their platform.

However, during an appearance on the Bobby Bones Show in January 2024, he looked like he had lost a lot of weight and admitted that he struggled to hit some notes post-surgery. This resulted from a stitch in his diaphragm and his not using it to sing every night. He noted that he had to work on his diaphragm, which was improving.

Although he could no longer hit specific notes, his regular singing on stage had not been affected. Just days before his death, on February 2, 2024, Keith had shared a video reminiscing about his early songwriting days.

Over his illustrious career, Keith has been nominated for 77 awards, winning 18. He won 12 Academy of Country Music Awards, including the Album of the Year award in 2001 and 2004. In 2004, he also won the Favorite Country Male Artist and Favorite Country Album at the American Music Award.

Even amidst his battle with cancer, his resilience and dedication to his craft showcased his love for music and cemented his legacy in the country music industry.