Toby Keith’s family joins the mournful chorus echoing the loss of the beloved country star.
On February 5, Toby Keith lost his battle with stomach cancer.
Toby Keith’s family announced the heartbreaking news of his passing due to stomach cancer, a battle he had been fighting since 2021. In a statement shared on social media, the family expressed their grief.
“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.”
RELATED: Hear The Emotional Song That Toby Keith’s Daughter Surprised Him With
Just a few days after Keith’s passing, his son Stelen and daughter Krystal turned to social media to express their sorrow and gratitude for the privilege of sharing their father with countless others.
Toby Keith’s Son Breaks His Silence Following His Dad’s Death
Toby’s son, Stelen, was the first to speak out on the tragic event. He shared a heartfelt statement on social media Thursday afternoon (Feb. 8). In the touching tribute, Stelen referred to his father as “My guiding star. My coach. My hero.” He praised Toby’s love as both a father and husband, highlighting his passion and profound impact on the world.
“You held a passion that was greater than mountains and it radiates through every lyric and chord. In the everlasting echo from the legacy of your music, you leave me strength and faith to lean on in the silence that follows,” Stelen wrote.
“The only thing I truly ever wanted in life was to make you proud. I promise I will continue to make you proud,” he concluded. “It’s not goodbye forever; it’s just goodbye for now. I love you cowboy.”
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Toby Keith’s Daughter-In-Law Shares Touching Tribute After His Death
Stelen’s wife, Haley, also wrote a touching tribute to Toby.
Toby’s cancer diagnosis came just one month before his son married Haley. During an appearance on Audacy’s Katie & Company in December 2023, Toby expressed his concerns about their upcoming wedding. He particularly worried about fulfilling his promise to talk Haley down the aisle amidst his health struggles.
“And my son was getting married, and his wife didn’t have a father. And she asked my son, Stelen, if I’d walk her down the aisle. I said ‘sure.’ And now I’m a month away from that, and I’m thinking ‘I might not even make it that far.’ I didn’t know, you know? When you get diagnosed, you just freak.”
Despite his health struggles, Toby fulfilled his promise and walked Haley down the aisle as planned. His presence meant the world to her in that special moment.
Following Toby’s passing, Haley paid tribute to him with a heartfelt post on her Instagram page. She shared a sweet photo of him walking her down the aisle, expressing how deeply meaningful that memory is to her.
“I’ll never have the right words to say,” Haley wrote. “Toby was larger than life at home and on stage. It’s a complete honor to be his daughter-in-law. He took me in as his own and I’ll forever be grateful for that. He touched the lives of so many and I’m blessed to be one of those.”
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Toby Keith’s Daughter Krystal Breaks Silence About His Death
Krystal shared her own post on Friday (Feb. 9), paying tribute to her father. The post featured a touching slideshow of photos, many capturing tender moments between Toby and Krystal’s two daughters.
Krystal expressed the profound impact of her father’s death, describing herself as “shattered” by the loss. She honored the significant role Toby played in her life, acknowledging his immense influence and presence.
“As great as he was in his career, he was so much greater as a dad and a husband and a Pop Pop. He was my hero.”
“I am so lucky to have had him and so grateful he got to walk me down the aisle and meet my babies. That I have years of memories traveling the world as a family. I am blessed that I got to spend years traveling on the road and singing on stage with him…I’m lucky I got to say goodbye and tell him what he meant to me.”
Krystal also conveyed her deep gratitude for the outpouring of tributes following Toby’s passing, sharing how touched she has been by everyone’s love and remembrance. She concluded her post by affirming her commitment to “forever honor” her beloved father’s memory.
“The pain is so unbelievably deep and it feels like I have a literal broken heart but I know that it wouldn’t hurt so bad if we didn’t love him and get to be loved so deeply by him,” she said.
See Krystal’s post below.
Our hearts go out to Toby’s family and those closest to him during this difficult time. We wish them strength and comfort, and are keeping them in our thoughts and prayers.
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.