Toby Keith’s health is in the spotlight in the wake of the news of his death due to stomach cancer. The country star died on Feb. 5, 2024, a little over two years after his diagnosis.
Keith often spoke about his health as he continued to undergo treatment for his illness. He also continued to perform until about two months before his death. He even took the stage at People’s Choice Country Awards on Sept. 28, 2023 — the first time he’d done so since sharing that he had stomach c.a.n.cer.
Toby Keith is a renowned American country music singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer. He was born on July 8, 1961, in Clinton, Oklahoma, USA. Keith’s music career took off in the early 1990s, and he has since become one of the most successful country artists of his generation.
Some of Toby Keith’s most famous songs include “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American),” “Beer for My Horses,” and “As Good as I Once Was.” His music often reflects themes of patriotism, love, and life in America.
In addition to his music career, Toby Keith has ventured into acting, with appearances in films such as “Broken Bridges” and “Beer for My Horses.
He has won numerous awards throughout his career, including multiple Academy of Country Music Awards and Country Music Association Awards. Toby Keith is known for his distinctive voice, charismatic stage presence, and his contributions to contemporary country music.
Keith had three children with wife Tricia Lucus. The oldest is daughter Shelley Covel Rowland, who is in her 40s; followed by singer-songwriter and daughter Krystal Keith, 38; and son Stelen Keith Covel, who is in his 20s.
“Toby Keith passed peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family,” a message on his website stated. “He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”
Keith had undergone multiple treatments for his cancer, including months of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. He performed several times a few months before his death — three sold-out shows in Las Vegas in December and at the People’s Choice Country Awards in September 2023.
The country star first revealed that he’d been diagnosed with cancer in June 2022, about six months after he’d started treatment. He received his diagnosis in the fall of 2021.
Since then, he opened up about being treated for stomach cancer, noting that the condition can be “debilitating” and he was trying to get back into “fighting shape” with the hope of performing again.
Keith performed for a full crowd in December 2023. He announced on Nov. 3 that all three of his shows at Las Vegas’ Dolby Live venue were sold out.
At the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Sept. 28, Keith shared how he was doing, saying, “I feel pretty good.”
When Keith first shared his diagnosis publicly, he did not provide a specific prognosis or stage of his cancer but did explain that his treatment would require chemotherapy, radiation and surgery for at least six months.
When caught in an early stage, most stomach cancers are curable. However, most stomach cancers are actually found in later stages, making them harder to treat, Mayo Clinic notes.