Beloved country singer, Toby Keith, passed away at the age of 62.
The country music nation is heartbroken today, as news of Toby Keith’s passing sinks in. Early this morning (Feb 6) Toby Keith’s family shared the news across social media that the country music icon passed away last night (Feb 5) after a years-long battle with stomach cancer.
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Toby was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2021. He went public with the news a few months later. At that time, he told his followers he was taking a break from performing so he could focus on his treatments and spend time with his family.
Toby Keith spoke openly about his battle with stomach cancer in a recent interview.
In the months after he went public with his diagnosis, Keith was transparent about his cancer journey and recovery, admitting the fear that he felt when he received the diagnosis, and sharing that he felt very weak during his iconic PCCAs performance.
Last month, Toby Keith sat down for a one-on-one with News 9 in his home in Norman, Oklahoma, where he discussed his decades-long career and his cancer treatment journey.
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Toby Keith recalls finding peace amid his battle.
News 9’s Robin Marsh asked the country music icon:
“Have you experienced a peace that passes all understanding?”
Her question references the well-known bible verse Philippians 4:7 which reads:
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (NKJV).”
Without hesitation, Keith responded affirmatively and recalled reaching a “good spot” in the spring of 2022:
“I just got to a point where I was comfortable with whatever happened. I had my brain wrapped around it and I was in a good spot, either way. People without faith don’t have that.”
Toby Keith relied heavily on his faith throughout the journey.
During the interview, Keith shared how his faith played an integral role in helping him cope with the disease. Marsh asked Keith how he perseveres through the “dark hallways.” He responded:
“Faith. You have to have your faith. Thank God that I got it too. You take it for granted on the days that things are good, and you lean on it when days are bad, and it’s taught me to lean on it a little more every day.”
Hear it from Toby Keith himself in the video below. Rest in Peace Toby Keith.
Toby Keith was the founder of the Toby Keith Foundation. The foundation helps support the OK Kids Korral, which serves as a home-away-from-home for families with children undergoing cancer treatments. If you’d like to make a donation in Toby’s memory, you can visit the Toby Keith Foundation’s official website here.