Known for crafting his identity as an unapologetic all-American country star that ‘represented the West‘, Toby Keith has died at the age of 62.
Keith, who was battling stomach cancer, died peacefully on Monday surrounded by his family according to a statement.
Country star @TobyKeithMusic with Saudi musician @RabehSaqer in Riyadh last night for an audience of hundreds of Saudi men (and no women). pic.twitter.com/g1jm2Ssuxz
— Ben Hubbard (@NYTBen) May 21, 2017
The singer had announced in the summer of 2022 that he had been diagnosed with cancer and was being treated with chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.
A sometimes polarizing figure in country music, he was known to clash heads with celebrities and journalists alike and often pushed back against record execs.
When artists backed out of performing at the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Keith stepped up to the plate when nobody else would.
He famously refused to back down on his decision to play the inauguration, saying he would never apologize for playing for the military or country.
A true patriot, Keith was also a prolific performer for American troops abroad, having performed hundreds of shows at military bases across the globe.
Toby Keith sings on stage during the Nobel Peace Prize Concert at Oslo Spektrum on December 11, 2009 in Oslo, Norway
Country music star Toby Keith plays (R) plays with Scotty Emerick during a United Service Organizations (USO) performance May 17, 2005 at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq
Keith (R) holds an artillery shell he is asked to autograph by U.S. troops at Camp Phoenix after a USO performance for coalition forces June 3, 2004 in Kabul, Afghanistan
Keith, who was battling stomach cancer, died peacefully on Monday surrounded by his family according to a statement
Keith pictured during his final televised interview in January 2024
After the attacks on US soil in 2001, he frequently started to wear his politics on his sleeve and early on said he was a conservative Democrat.
He was known for his patriotism with post 9/11 songs like ‘Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue’.
The song included a threat, ‘we’ll put a boot in your ass it’s the American way’, to anyone who dared to mess with his beloved country.
That song got pulled from a patriotic ABC Fourth of July special after producers deemed it too angry for the show.
Singer-songwriter Steve Earle called Keith’s song ‘pandering to people’s worst instincts at a time they are hurt and scared.’
Keith later claimed he was an independent, and played at events for Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump.
Former President Trump would go on to give him a National Medial of the Arts in 2021.
In 2021, he came to Trump’s aid and performed at his inauguration after stars backed out from performing for fear that their participation was a statement of support.
In a statement, Keith told Entertainment Weekly: ‘I don’t apologize for performing for our country or military.
‘I performed at events for previous presidents Bush and Obama and over 200 shows in Iraq and Afghanistan for the USO.’
President Trump would go on to give Keith, seen here on the left, a National Medial of the Arts in 2021
He was known for his patriotism with post 9/11 songs like ‘Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue’. He is seen here performing for President Bush in 2004
Keith (2R) performs for US President-elect Donald Trump and his family during a welcome celebration at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, on January 19, 201
Keith pictured with his wife, Tricia, at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2018
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.
Tributes pour in for ‘true legend’ country singer Toby Keith who has died from stomach cancer aged 62 as fans praise ‘last true cowboy’ whose music spanned three decades and ‘brought much happiness to many’
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During an interview at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas he said: ‘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?’
In an interview with the Associated Press in 2008, he also touted Barack Obama as being ‘the best Democratic candidate we’ve had since Bill Clinton’.
Keith was was performing for troops in the Middle East when Osama Bin Laden was killed by Navy SEALS in Pakistan.
According to a report in the The Oklahoman at the time, Keith had been without cell phone service at the time of President Obama’s announcement.
Keith then released a statement once he heard of the news, saying: ”It’s a great day to be an American.
‘I’ve been telling you for a decade that the U.S. military would hunt down and kill world enemy No. 1. While traveling abroad I am blown away by the positive coverage by the world media.
‘There IS a consensus in the world media I have never seen before. Thanks to our commander in chief for having the cojones to finish this job, but the mission is far from over.’
Keith pictured with his son, Stelen, left, Stelen’s wife Haley, his daughter, Shelley, in front holding the baby, his wife Tricia, and his other daughter, Krystal
Keith holds his cap over his heart during a moment of honor during a Memorial Day performance at Storck Barracks May 31, 2004 in Illesheim, Germany
Musician Toby Keith accepts USO award onstage during ACM Presents: An All-Star Salute To The Troops at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 7, 2014
Keith, left, and Ted Nugent entertained soldiers during a specia concert held at Camp Victory, Baghdad on June 5, 2004, during Operation Iraqi Freedom
Keith made his first trip to U.S. servicemen and women and their families in 2002, visiting countries including Africa, Cuba, Korea, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan and Macedonia.
Due to his performances for troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, he was awarded the Military Officers Association of America Distinguished Service Award in 2009.
Speaking about his tour in 2011, he said: ‘Since my first tour, I’ve been hooked on performing for troops.
‘I start looking forward to my next USO trip the minute I touch down here in the States. I love it and I love our troops, they are the best in the world.’
Keith was well known for taking tours to remote bases and on occasion was forced to seek shelter after coming under attack.
In a previous post to Facebook during his May 2011 tour, he said: ‘4 mortars hit close as I was about 2 take stage last night – we had to hunker in a bunker til all clear.’
In May 2017, Keith would go to perform in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after being invited to play by the royal court.
Videos shared to social media show the all-male audience in white robes and checkered head coverings waving their phones to his songs.
Country singer Toby Keith performs for US President-elect Donald Trump and his family during a welcome celebration at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2017
Keith greets special guests, Sergeant Marquette Whiteside, Sergeant Ronald Buxton and Specialist Billie Grimes, the soldiers featured on the cover of ‘Time’ Magazine’s ‘Person of the Year’
After the attacks on US soil in 2001, he frequently started to wear his politics on his sleeve and early on said he was a conservative Democrat
At the same time, then President Donald Trump was just a few miles away on an official trip away.
Keith told The Atlantic: ‘My job was to represent the West and to reach out. Who am I to tell them how to run their country? They were friendly. They clapped and boogied and stomped their feet.’
The 6-foot-4 singer broke out in the country boom years of the 1990s, writing songs that fans loved to hear.
Keith worked as a roughneck in the oil fields of Oklahoma as a young man, then played semi-pro football before launching his career as a singer.
‘I write about life, and I sing about life, and I don’t overanalyze things,’ Keith told The Associated Press in 2001, following the success of his song ‘I’m Just Talking About Tonight.’
Keith learned good lessons in the booming oil fields, which toughened him up, but also showed him the value of money.
Keith signs an autograph on the camouflage uniform of a U.S. soldier May 16, 2005 after a performance in Tikri, Iraq
Over 300 US Army gathered at Camp Merez to listen US country western performer Toby Keith, visiting in the city of Mosul, 400 kilometers north of Baghdad
Keith performs onstage for the BMI Icon Award during the 2022 BMI Country Awards in Nashville in 2022
‘The money to be made was unbelievable,’ Keith told the AP in 1996. ‘I came out of high school in 1980 and they gave me this job December of 1979, $50,000 a year. I was 18-years-old.’
But the domestic oil field industry collapsed and Keith had not saved. ‘It about broke us,’ he said. ‘So I just learned. I’ve taken care of my money this time.’
He spent a couple seasons as a defensive end for the Oklahoma City Drillers, a farm team for the now-defunct United States Football League.
Keith found consistent money playing music with his band throughout the red dirt roadhouse circuit in Oklahoma and Texas.
His path took him to Nashville, where he attracted the interest of Mercury Records head Harold Shedd, who was best known as a producer for the hit group Alabama.
Shedd brought him to Mercury, where he released his platinum debut record ‘Toby Keith,’ in 1993.
‘Should’ve Been a Cowboy,’ his breakout hit, was played 3 million times on radio stations, making it the most played country song of the 1990s.
