Country singer Toby Keith dies after three year battle with stomach cancer

06 February 2024 , 09:47

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Toby Keith has died (Image: Variety via Getty Images)

Toby Keith has died at the age of 62, three years after being diagnosed with stomach cancer.

A message on his Instagram page read: "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."

Tributes have been pouring in, with singer-songwriter Randy Houser commenting: "God Bless you and Family. Hard to imagine an America without Toby Keith in it." American golfer John Daly added: "My heart is truly broken… one of my best friends gone by this disease! RIP Big Dawg."

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Toby Keith has died after being diagnosed with cancer (NBC via Getty Images)

Fans have also been paying their respects, with one person writing: "Rest easy Toby. Drinking a beer in a red solo cup and playing your music in your honor." Another said: "My heart is broken…Thank you for sharing yourself with the world."

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Toby is survived by his wife Tricia Lucas and their three children - daughters Shelley Covel Rowland and Krystal Keith and son Stelen Keith. The singer also had four grandchildren.

Earlier this month, Toby had opened up about his stomach cancer diagnosis. He was first diagnosed with the disease in 2021. "I was going through all the chemo, radiation, surgery, and I got to the point where I was comfortable with whatever happened.

"I had my brain wrapped around it, and I was in a good spot either way," he said in an interview with 9 News. In June 2023, Toby revealed he had already undergone six months of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

The singer had been undergoing treatment for his cancer (Variety via Getty Images)

At the time, the Should've Been a Cowboy hitmaker said his tumour had shrunk by a third. Toby didn't open up about his cancer diagnosis until 2022. He took to Twitter to announce that he underwent surgery and had received chemotherapy and radiation.

"So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover and relax. I am looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can't wait," he wrote.

In 2006, Toby set up a foundation to help children who had been diagnosed with cancer. The Toby Keith Foundation aims to "encourage the health and happiness of paediatric cancer patients and to support OK Kids Korral, a home for children battling cancer."

Scarlett O'Toole