Posted on: February 6, 2024, 01:22h.
Last updated on: February 6, 2024, 01:35h.
Country music legend and Las Vegas mainstay Toby Keith died on Monday of stomach cancer at age 62. The sad news was announced via a statement posted to his website and social media accounts.
Keith — born Toby Keith Covel on July 8, 1961, in Clinton, Okla. — worked on oil fields during high school and played in the USFL football league before pursuing music.
He enjoyed country superstardom for three decades, beginning with his 1993 breakout hit, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.” Keith’s hits also included 1999’s “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” the 2003 Willie Nelson duet “Beer For My Horses,” and 2002’s “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American),” which was inspired by the 9/11 attacks as well as the death of his veteran father.
Keith was diagnosed with cancer in 2021 and revealed the news a year later on Instagram, telling fans that he had been undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery as part of his battle.
Keith died less than two months after performing his final shows, on December 10, 11, and 14 at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas.
The tightknit country music community posted tributes on social media throughout Tuesday morning.
“Today is a sad day for country music and its fans,” tweeted Jason Aldean. “Toby was a huge presence in our business and someone we all looked up to and respected. You and your music will be forever remembered big man.”
Too many rides in my old man’s car listening to Toby Keith, really hard thing to hear rest in peace my friend,” Zach Bryan tweeted.
Lee Greenwood tweeted that Keith was an “amazing artist, songwriter, patriot and man of faith” who “did things his way.”
