Country music star Toby Keith has died at the age of 62.
The singer-songwriter passed away on Monday 5 February after a battle with stomach cancer.
“Toby Keith passed peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family,” reads a statement published on his official website. “He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”
Keith announced in June 2022 that he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer in late 2021. At the time of his announcement, he had already spent six months receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and had undergone surgery to treat the disease.
In December 2022, he described his cancer battle as “pretty debilitating”, but in December 2023, he assured fans that he was feeling “great” amid his ongoing treatment.
“I finally got it in a spot where I’m really comfortable with it. Everything’s trending really well right now, and I’m not gonna let this define the rest of my life. If I live to be 100 or I don’t, I’m going to go forward,” he told Taste of Country.
He played three shows in Las Vegas that month.
During his 30-year career, Keith released 19 studio albums, beginning with his 1993 self-titled debut and ending with 2021’s Peso in My Pocket. He was best known for the number one singles Should’ve Been a Cowboy, Who’s Your Daddy?, How Do You Like Me Now?!, Made in America, As Good as I Once Was, and Beer for My Horses, a duet with Willie Nelson.
Keith is survived by his wife Tricia and three children.
