Toby Keith: The country singer has died at the age of 62 after a battle with stomach cancer



CNN

Country singer Toby Keith died on Monday at the age of 62 after a battle with stomach cancer.

“Toby Keith passed away peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family. He fought his battle with courage and bravery. Please respect his family's privacy at this time.” The statement has been published Keith's website and social media said.

Eileen Schock, who had been Keith's publicist since 2003, confirmed his death to CNN. His publicist told CNN that he leaves behind his wife, Tricia, and three children, Shelley, Crystal and Stelline. His mother and two brothers survived him.

Keith revealed to him stomach cancer Diagnosis in 2022

“I have spent the last six months receiving chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. So far so good. I need time to breathe, recover and relax,” he said in a statement at the time. “I am looking forward to spending time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner rather than later.”

He continues to perform, most recently performing in Las Vegas.

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Earlier this month, he posted a video Counseling To other songwriters. “Just toil every day,” he said.

Keith said that most of his catalog was created while he was writing at least four to five days a week. “You've got to have size, you've got to have training, you've got to maintain your skills, you've got to stay in the middle of the game,” he said.

Keith performed at the 2023 People's Choice Country Awards in September and He was awarded the State Icon Award.

He released his debut album in 1993 and is known for his hit songs including “Red Solo Cup” and “I Wanna Talk About Me.” His song “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American),” released in 2002 in the wake of the September 11 attacks, made him a household name.

Keith got up Hundreds of offers for US service members abroad, Including in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as at special events for Presidents Donald Trump, Barack Obama and George W. Bush.

He was gifted at times Wounded veterans with wheelchairs At his parties.

Keith, who described himself as a third-generation Democrat, told CNN in 2010 that his support for military service members had nothing to do with politics.

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Keith performs during the United Service Organizations Parade on May 17, 2005, at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq.

“There is not one political thing about supporting the troops,” he said.

In 2021, then-President Trump awarded Keith The National Medal of Arts, which the National Endowment for the Arts describes as “the highest award given to artists and patrons of the arts by the United States government.”

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNN's Marianne Garvey, Raja Razik, Amanda Jackson and Susannah Cullinan contributed to this report.

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