Toby Keith, Iconic Country Singer, Dead At 62
It is a devastating day for country music fans as the iconic singer and songwriter Toby Keith has passed away at the young age of 62. A spokesperson for Keith’s family took to social media and the entertainer’s website to share that after an ongoing battle with stomach cancer, Keith passed away “peacefully” on the night of February 5th.
Toby Keith Passes Away
The release also said that his loving family were surrounding him when he died and asked that their privacy be granted at this time.
Despite having shared his stomach cancer diagnosis with the world in 2022, Toby Keith continued to power through performances, taking stages across the country over the last two years.
Back in September, the legendary artist took center stage at the People’s Choice Country Awards where he accepted the Country Icon Award for his long-spanning career in the music industry.
Born In Oklahoma
An Oklahoma native, Toby Keith rose through the ranks of prominent country western music stars of the ‘90s alongside other familiar household names like Garth Brooks, The Chicks, Shania Twain, LeAnn Rimes, and Keith Urban.
First signed with Mercury Records for his first five albums, his run with the record company would bring him success with singles such as “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” and “A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action,” and see his name land on the Billboard Country Charts over and over again.
Career Takes Off
By the end of the decade, Toby Keith parted ways with Mercury Records and scooted to Nashville’s DreamWorks Records, where he continued to put out hit after hit.
Keith’s career really began to take off in the 2000s, when he earned the Academy of Country Music’s Top Male Vocalist and Album of the Year awards.
Many Hit Songs
This was all the start of something magnificent for Toby Keith as, after he wrote “Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue (The Angry American)” as a response to the attacks of September 11, his trajectory only continued to skyrocket.
Around this time, he paired up with living legend Willie Nelson on the song “Beer for My Horses,” which spent a whopping six weeks claiming the top spot on the country charts.
Other songs from Toby Keith’s career that we’ll never forget include “Red Solo Cup” and “I Wanna Talk About Me”.
Supporting The Troops
The son of a U.S. Army veteran (whom he referenced in his song “Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue”), Toby Keith always made sure to pay it forward to the United States troops. He would often travel overseas to perform for the armed services and appear at events held by Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump.
A left-leaning member of the Democratic party, Keith never saw the support of the military as a political stance but rather something that the entire country should respect.
Toby Keith’s Family
Toby Keith is survived by his two siblings and mother and leaves behind his wife, Tricia, and three children, Shelley, Krystal, and Stelen.
At this time, we’re sending all of our thoughts and well-wishes to Keith’s grieving family and friends.
Source: CNN
