Toby Keith, a popular country singer known for his pro-American anthems, has passed away at the age of 62 after battling stomach cancer.
Driving the news: According to his website, Keith died peacefully on Monday surrounded by his family, and he was praised for fighting his fight with grace and courage. Keith gained prominence in the 1990s with hit songs like “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” and throughout his career, he pushed back against record executives who wanted to soften his rough edges.
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- He was admired for his patriotic songs like “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” and his boisterous barroom tunes like “I Love This Bar” and “Red Solo Cup.”
- Despite his cancer diagnosis, Keith continued to perform, and he recently played in Las Vegas in December 2023.
- Prior to his music career, Keith worked in the oil fields of Oklahoma and played semi-pro football.
- He found success in Nashville after signing with Mercury Records in 1993, but later moved to DreamWorks Records in 1999, where he had more commercial success with hits like “How Do You Like Me Now?!”
