(RepublicanPress.org) – Country music singer and songwriter Toby Keith Covel, known professionally as Toby Keith, died at 62. Some of the artist’s number-one hits include “Should Have Been a Cowboy” and “As Good as I Once Was.” On February 6, his website and social media pages posted a brief statement announcing that he “passed peacefully” the previous night, “surrounded” by family members.
— Toby Keith (@tobykeith) February 6, 2024
The notice also said the multi-platinum singer-songwriter “fought […] with grace and courage,” an apparent reference to his 2021 cancer diagnosis. The statement concluded with a request for Keith’s fans to respect his family’s privacy.
Keith announced his cancer diagnosis in mid-June 2022, telling fans he was diagnosed with stomach cancer in the fall of 2021. He said he had spent the last several months receiving various treatments, including radiation, chemotherapy, and an unspecified surgical procedure.
— Toby Keith (@tobykeith) June 12, 2022
Keith also confirmed that he would be taking some time away from music to “recover,” “relax,” and breathe.” He concluded his post by saying he looked forward to spending some time with his family but was eager to return to the stage to see his fans. “I can’t wait,” he added.
In December 2023, Keith’s website announced his “triumphant return to the stage,” shortly after he performed three shows at the Park MGM Casino Hotel’s Dolby Live in Las Vegas. The statement noted that all three shows sold out within minutes, a record for that venue.
In early December, Keith posted a short clip on his YouTube page announcing his return to the stage and touring. “Hey everybody […] it’s been a while,” he began, calmly adding: “You know what I’ve been doing.” Keith said his life had recently been a “rollercoaster,” but God was “riding shotgun.”
Keith said the “Almighty” was letting him retake the steering wheel. He characterized his first couple of Vegas concerts as “rehab shows,” an opportunity to “get [his] band back in sync” and get him back into the habit of performing again.
The singer said the “old devil” had been chasing him through the 2020 health emergency and his bout with cancer. However, he said, “I’ve got him by the horns right now,” and decided it was time to “get the band back together.”
Keith is survived by his wife, Tricia Lucus, and three children, Shelley Covel Rowland, Stelen Keith Covel, and Krystal Covel Sandubrae.
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