Toby Keith Passed Away After Battle with Cancer—Aged 62

Country singer Toby Keith has passed away after a battle with cancer. The “Red Solo Cup” singer was 62.

A statement posted on his official website reads, “Toby Keith passed peacefully last night on February 5 surrounded by his family. He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”

Keith announced he received a stomach cancer diagnosis in June 2022 and was receiving chemo treatments, radiation therapy, and surgery. Keith continued to perform throughout receiving cancer treatments, most recently playing in Las Vegas in December 2023. He also performed at the People’s Choice Country Awards in 2023, singing “Don’t Let the Old Man In.”

“Cancer is a roller coaster,” he told KWTV during an interview that aired last month. “You just sit here and wait on it to go away. It might never go away.”

Toby Keith rose to prominence in 1993 with his debut single, “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” his first #1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country chart. Keith would amass 20 #1 hits on the same chart including songs “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “I Wanna Talk About Me,” “Beer For My Horses,” “Who’s Your Daddy?,” “I Love This Bar,” and “As Good As I Once Was,” among many others.

After the 9/11 attacks, Keith’s music took on a patriotic tone, releasing songs like “Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue,” “American Soldier,” and “Made in America.” As news of the death broke, several country music stars paid their respects to the singer on social media.

“We toured together several times around the globe,” said Billy Ray Cyrus. “He was always the kindest, sweetest gentle giant of an outlaw one could ever hope to entertain and make music with. Raising a red cup this morning and saying a prayer. Heaven’s a honytonk tonight.”

Carrie Underwood also offered her sympathy, saying “Saddle up the horses Jesus, ‘cause a true blue cowboy just made his ride up to heaven!”

Toby Keith is survived by his wife, Tricia Lucas and their three children.