Toby Keith Covel , known professionally as Toby Keith, an American country music singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer , passed away on Monday at the age of 62 after a battle with stomach cancer.
“Toby Keith passed peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family. He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time,” a statement posted to Keith’s website and social media said.
Elaine Schock, Keith’s publicist since 2003, confirmed his death to CNN.
Keith is survived by his wife, Tricia, and three children, Shelley, Krystal, and Stelen, as well as his mother and two siblings.
He publicly disclosed his stomach cancer diagnosis in 2022.
In September 2023, Keith performed at the People’s Choice Country Awards and received the Country Icon Award. He was known for hits such as “Red Solo Cup” and “I Wanna Talk About Me.” His 2002 song “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American),” released in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, catapulted him to household name status.
In 2021, then-President of the USA, Donald Trump awarded Keith the National Medal of Arts, the highest honor given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government, as described by the National Endowment for the Arts.
