Tributes pour in for ‘true legend’ nation singer Toby Keith

Country music followers, performers and radio personalities are paying tribute to legendary musician Toby Keith after the ‘final true cowboy’ died of abdomen most cancers.

The singer died ‘peacefully’ on Monday night time, aged 62, after battling the illness with ‘grace and braveness’. He was ‘surrounded by his household’, an announcement mentioned.

Keith, who was first identified in 2022, has left a long-lasting affect on the nation music business with followers applauding his ‘nice expertise’ and songs which have introduced ‘a lot pleasure to so many individuals‘.

Mourners have additionally hailed him as a ‘true legend’ and ‘true American patriot’ who liked veterans and confirmed an ‘superb help’ for US troops.

Keith, typically a polarizing determine in nation music, was identified for his overt patriotism on submit 9/11 songs like Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue, and boisterous barroom tunes like I Love This Bar and Red Solo Cup. 

He is survived by his spouse, Tricia Lucas, and their three kids, daughters Shelley Covel Rowland, fellow singer Krystal Keith and son, Stelen. The singer additionally had 4 grandchildren. During his illustrious profession, Keith bought over 40 million information. 

Keith, a longtime resident of Norman, Oklahoma, handed peacefully on Monday surrounded by his household, in response to an announcement posted on the nation singer’s web site.

‘Toby Keith handed peacefully final night time on February fifth, surrounded by his household. He fought his battle with grace and braveness. Please respect the privateness of his household at the moment,’ the message learn. 

The 6-foot-4 singer broke out within the nation growth years of the Nineties, crafting an identification round his macho, pro-American swagger and writing songs that followers liked to listen to.

Now, in wake of his passing, nation music followers are honoring his highly effective booming voice, tongue-in-cheek humorousness and vary that carried love songs in addition to ingesting songs.

‘This one hurts. His music helped me via so many factors in my life and introduced a lot pleasure to so many individuals,’ wrote X person @flyingnapkins.

‘He was one of many final true cowboys left. Go relaxation excessive on that mountain and know you’ll ceaselessly stay on in our hearts along with your superb music.’

The Patriot Voice, a X account, echoed: ‘RIP to a TRUE Legend, one of many BEST to ever do it, and a die-hard BAD*** Patriot who liked his nation FIERCELY. You are actually with Jesus, in a a lot, MUCH higher place.’

WWE star Brooklyn Brawler, actual title Steve Lombardi, posted a photograph of himself with the singer, saying Keith was a ‘nice expertise,’ ‘nice individual’ and ‘won’t ever be forgotten’.

Podcast host Joey Mannarino, who reportedly met Keith at an inauguration occasion for former President Donald Trump, mentioned he was a ‘good man’ and ‘gone means too quickly’.

Absolute Radio Country, describing him as ‘legendary’, added that ‘our ideas are along with his family members at the moment’. 

Earlier this month, the singer opened up about his abdomen most cancers battle in an interview with 9News. The Should’ve Been a Cowboy singer was first identified in 2021. 

‘I used to be going via all of the chemo, radiation, surgical procedure, and I obtained to the purpose the place I used to be snug with no matter occurred. I had my mind wrapped round it, and I used to be in a great spot both means,’ Keith mentioned.  

During the 9News interview, Keith the singer known as his spouse ‘one of the best nurse.’

‘Oh, she’s been a trooper. She’s one of the best nurse. The first time we went to Houston, to the hospital, she stepped proper in and he or she simply took management and mentioned, “We got this. Let’s go.” So she’s like, “We’re going to get this and don’t worry about it,”‘ he added. 

The couple met first in Oklahoma nightspot in 1981 when he was 20 and he or she was 19. They dated for 3 years earlier than marrying in 1984. At that time, Keith adopted Tricia’s daughter from a earlier relationship, Shelley. 

Their daughter Krystal got here alongside in 1985 adopted by son Stelen in 1997. When they married, Keith was nonetheless struggling to make it as a rustic music singer, he credited his spouse with standing by him throughout these occasions. 

‘Dozens of individuals informed Tricia, “You need to go to tell your old man to get a real job,”‘ he as soon as informed Country Weekly.

‘It took a strong-hearted and loving lady to say, “He’s good enough at music that I’ve got to let him try. And it’ll be a great shot for both of us he can make it work.’

‘I absolutely love performing and writing songs, but being at home with my wife, Tricia, and my three kids is the best feeling of all,’ he continued.  

In September 2023, Tricia could be seen in tears as Keith performed the song Don’t Let the Old Man In after receiving the Country Icon Award at the People’s Choice Country Awards. 

As a young artist, Keith asked to be let out of his contract with Mercury Records when executives didn’t like his album, How Do You Like Me Now? because they thought women would view the title track’s lyrics as disrespectful. 

But How Do You Like Me Now? went on to attain gold status, selling more than 500,000 units, and Keith went on to sell 25 million albums for his new label, Dreamworks. 

He mentioned in a June 2023 interview with The Oklahoman that he had already spent the previous six months present process chemotherapy, radiation and surgical procedure.

He added that he would continue with the chemo and that his tumor had shrunk by a third and that his blood tests have looked good.

Keith did not speak publicly about his cancer battle until 2022. 

The multi-platinum-selling singer said on Twitter that he underwent surgery and received chemotherapy and radiation in the past six months.

‘So far, so good,’ said Keith, an Oklahoma native who turns 61 on July 8. ‘I need time to breathe, recover and relax.

‘I am looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can’t wait.’ 

In 2006, Keith set up a basis to assist kids battling most cancers. 

According to The Washington Post, through his music and other ventures, Keith was bringing in $50 million per year. His ventures included a stake in Big Machine Records, the Nashville-based company that signed Taylor Swift in 2005. 

In addition to his music and charitable works, Keith was also known for his often outspoken political beliefs. 

Following September 11th, Keith recorded the song Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue, which prompted both widespread praise and intense backlash. 

‘It wasn’t written for everybody. And when you write something from your heart – I had a dad that was a veteran, taught me how precious our freedom is – I was so angry when we were attacked here on American soil that it leaked out of me,’ Keith said in a 2003 interview regarding the track.  

‘You know, some people wept when they heard it. Some people got goose bumps. Some people were emotionally moved. Some cheered, turned their fists in the air,’ he added.

Among those who were critical were fellow country stars, the Dixie Chicks. Singer Natalie Maines described it as ‘ignorant, and it makes country music sound ignorant.’ 

Keith responded by having a backdrop of a photoshopped image of Maines with Saddam Hussein at his concerts. In late 2003, Keith said he was done with the feud. 

The song became one of Keith’s biggest hits, topping the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and hitting number 25 on the Billboard Hot 11 chart. 

Keith spoke of his admiration for Barack Obama in 2008 but ultimately said that he was more likely to vote for the Republican ticket. 

In 2017, Keith performed at the Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial prior to Donald Trump’s inauguration. 

In January 2021, Keith was awarded the National Medal of Arts by Trump alongside fellow nation star Ricky Skaggs. 

In the program notes for the ceremony, as shared by former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, Keith was handed the award for ‘making extraordinary contributions to American music.’

‘Rising from humble beginnings in the oil fields of Oklahoma, Toby Keith has become one of the preeminent songwriters of his generation,’ the program reads. ‘His musical contributions have provided the country with powerful, emotional songs that captivate and inspire the nation.’

While never having endorsed Trump, Keith did previously call the president – and his then-opponent Hilary Clinton – ‘media whores’ during an interview in September 2016.

‘This is by far the best country you could ever live in, and we picked these two candidates to be media whores and go out there and take care of the world, huh?’ he said during an interview at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas. He went on to call the election a ‘dumpster fire.’

When quizzed earlier that August which candidate he’d be voting for in 2016, Keith said: ‘This election, I don’t think it makes a difference.

‘I can’t believe there’s 300 million Americans in this country and we’ve got these two as our final two. It’s absolutely crazy.’

Keith has previously revealed he was raised a Democrat in Oklahoma and was registered with the party until 2008, when he became an independent.

‘I was a Democrat my whole life. They kind of disowned me when I started supporting the troops, then I went and registered independent,’ he told the Chicago Tribune. 

‘I’ve never been a registered Republican. It just keeps people off balance. They don’t know what to think.’