Toby Keith (Covel) passed away on Monday night (February 5th) from his battle with stomach cancer. He announced his illness in June 2022 and revealed he’d been diagnosed in October 2021, and had undergone radiation, surgery and chemotherapy. He was 62 years old.
In September of last year at the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards, Toby was presented with the Country Icon Award by fellow Okie Blake Shelton. He also performed the emotional “Don’t Let The Old Man In,” followed by three shows in Las Vegas in December 2023.
The superstar, best known for such hits as “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue,” “American Soldier,” “Who’s Your Daddy,” “Wanna Talk About Me,” and many others, is survived by his wife Tricia, whom he married 40 years ago (in 1984). The couple has three children — daughters Shelley and Krystal; son, Stelen — as well as four grandchildren.
Having sold over 40 million albums, had over 30 songs go to No. 1 , Toby began his career in 1993 with the release of his debut single, “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” which went straight up to the top of the country charts. Mercury Nashville was his label home for several years, and they came up with a cool marketing plan to showcase their three new artists at the time, including Toby, Shania Twain and John Brannen, called the Triple Play Tour.
His passing was announced on his social media platforms, stating he was surrounded by his family and “He fought his fight with grace and courage.” The statement then asked for people to “Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”
Many members of the country music community and beyond sent us audio and took to social media to remember the singer-songwriter-performer-entrepreneur, including fellow Oklahoman Reba McEntire. She tells us, “Toby and I are both from Oklahoma and very proud of our Oklahoma heritage. Toby worked very hard to make a mark in the country music business and did a great job doing that. Very proud of him, and I hope he rests in peace. I was very honored to get to work with Toby and be a part of the era of country music he was in. We’ll sure miss him.”
Reba McEntire (Toby Keith) OC: …miss him. :25
“Toby and I are both from Oklahoma and very proud of our Oklahoma heritage. Toby worked very hard to make a mark in the country music business and did a great job doing that. Very proud of him, and I hope he rests in peace. I was very honored to get to work with Toby and be a part of the era of country music he was in. We’ll sure miss him.”
Carrie Underwood posted a photo of her and Toby and said, “Saddle up the horses, Jesus, ‘cause a true blue COWBOY just made his ride up to heaven!!! Introduce him to all the Okies and sign that boy up for the choir! We’re gonna miss you, Toby, but my heart has no doubt that you are standing in the presence of our King right now!!! See you again someday, friend.”
Luke Bryan just arrived at the set of American Idol when he heard the news of Toby’s passing. He said, “An iconic artist and a great man. Your songs turn every room into a good time.”
Josh Turner wrote, “Toby Keith was a force to be reckoned with. 32 #1 hits, 30 years in the music business, a proficient songwriter, an unforgettable voice, and a staunch supporter of the US military. Not many people know what it takes to have a 30 year career, but you have to be incredibly tough.”
Travis Denning took to his socials to perform a piece of Toby’s hit, “My List.” He wrote, “Country Music lost an icon today. Toby Keith was one of the greatest entertainers this genre ever saw. At his core, and what I loved most, was a songwriter. He could write them just as good as anyone else and respected a damn good written one. RIP Toby.”
George Strait posted a tribute to Toby from him, his wife Norma and the rest of his family. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the @TobyKeith family. May God give you comfort and peace.”
Kansas City Chiefs Tight End Travis Kelce was asked during a pre-Super Bowl press conference his favorite country song, and he said, “R.I.P. Toby Keith. ‘Should’ve Been a Cowboy.'”
Several artists were lucky to tour with Toby, including burgeoning superstar Eric Church, who said in 2011 prior to the kickoff of the Locked and Loaded Tour that he was going to give the headliner a run for his money.
Eric Church (Toby Keith 2011) OC: …I promise. :30
“We’ve done things our own way. We don’t care a whole lot what people think, probably never will, and I think that makes a good tour. There’s not people out there following rules and trying to be something they’re not, and I’ve always respected that about Toby, and I think that’s so far why we’ve gotten along pretty well. And you know, I just straight up told him, ‘I’m coming out there, man, to step on it. I don’t care. I know it’s your tour. I know you’re Toby Keith. I don’t care. I’m coming out there swingin’, so either stand there and get punched or swing back.’ So, it’s gonna be fun. He’s gonna swing back (smiles), I promise.”
Darius Rucker paid tribute to Toby on socials (see Instagram post below), saying “Country Music lost a legend.” He also performed at the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday night (February 6th) and sang his “favorite Toby song,” which was “God Love Her.”
Toby Keith (wanted to accomplish 2010) OC: …want 150. :42
“I don’t know about being a visionary, I’m just a songwriter. But one goal that I am, if God lets me live long enough – Lord willing – that I’m gonna accomplish…I’ll probably accomplish it anyway, but I want to accomplish it sooner rather than later is 100 million spins as a songwriter, and I’m over 70 million now. And being able to have a long career and to write 99% of the stuff and looked upon in those peer groups that they, those pedestals that they put you on. When I crossed the 50 million, the 50 million club was a who’s who. Had to get to 70, so I want to get to 100. That’s just my next number, and then I won’t be happy. I want 150.”
Toby Keith (Willie Nelson) OC: …a great guy. :30
“I’ve worked with Willie for years. We did some videos together. We did duets together, and he was in a movie with me. Willie’s been a great supporter and a great friend of mine, great mentor. Believe it or not, Willie Nelson is a wonderful mentor (laughs). And he is amazing, has a little light in his eyes all the time and a great smile on his face, and he’s a very honest person. He’s not a hypocrite, and he stands up for his friends, you know. He’s a great guy.”
Toby Keith (first times on stage) OC: …our first gig. :48
“My grandmother got me a guitar on my eighth birthday or 10th birthday, somewhere around there. And then I went and stayed with her one summer when I was like 12, and she had a band in her night club and I would get up and jam with them. So, I’ve been on stage since I was a kid, but the first place where my band actually went and set up besides the garage and played as our band, was a little bar that’s not there anymore in Oklahoma named, it was called The Feed Store. The guy who had the gig went on vacation or something and they had us come in and fill in and they said they needed someone to fill in for this guy and we’d never played a paying job, and we took the job. We played it and he came back, and they gave us the job and told him to hit it. So, it was like our first gig.”
Toby Keith (first concert) OC: …me with her. :22
“My mom took me to see Hank Williams Jr. when I was six years old at the Civic Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Hank wasn’t even Bocephus yet. Hank had an album out that had a song on it called ‘Eleven Roses,’ and he was singing a lot of his father’s songs, and my mom wanted to go see him. She had two tickets, and I was her oldest son, so I was six and she took me with her.”