Toby Keith is seen performing April 7, 2014 at ACM Presents an All-Star Salute to the Troops in Las Vegas. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP disguise caption
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Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Toby Keith is seen performing April 7, 2014 at ACM Presents an All-Star Salute to the Troops in Las Vegas.
Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Toby Keith, the nation music celebrity behind a number of the largest hit songs to come back out of Nashville, has died at age 62.
Keith died on Monday, his publicist confirmed to NPR, and his passing was additionally introduced on his official web site and on X, previously Twitter.
“Toby Keith handed peacefully final night time on February 5, surrounded by his household,” reads the assertion on Keith web site. “He fought his combat with grace and braveness. Please respect the privateness of his household right now.”
Keith introduced on social media in 2022 that he had been present process chemotherapy and radiation therapies for abdomen most cancers since fall 2021.
“Up to now, so good,” he mentioned on the time. “I want time to breathe, get well and calm down.”
A serious nation star for 3 a long time, Keith loved hits equivalent to “Pink Solo Cup,” “How Do You Like Me Now?!” and “Beer For My Horses,” a duet with Willie Nelson.
The native Oklahoman grew up in Oklahoma Metropolis, working within the oil fields after highschool whereas enjoying music together with his personal band. Ultimately, music turned Keith’s major focus, and he caught his massive break when famed producer Harold Shedd heard his demo tape.
Keith’s breakout hit, “Ought to’ve Been a Cowboy,” debuted in 1993 and would go on to turn into essentially the most performed nation music of the last decade, with greater than 3 million performs on the radio.
He went on to supply many extra hits, together with the 2002 music “Courtesy of the Pink, White and Blue (The Offended American),” impressed by the 9/11 assaults in addition to the demise of his veteran father. Whereas polarizing, the unapologetically patriotic music introduced Keith’s visibility to a brand new degree.
The music famously led to a feud between Keith and Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks (now the Chicks). Maines, recognized for her views towards then President George W. Bush and the warfare in Iraq, deemed the music “ignorant” in an interview on the time of its launch, main Keith to later undertaking a doctored picture of Maines alongside Saddam Hussein at his concert events.
Keith reportedly later mentioned he was “embarrassed” by his function within the feud.
Amongst Keith’s many accolades, the Academy of Nation Music named him Male Vocalist of the Yr in 2001. He was awarded Artist of the Decade on the American Nation Awards in 2011, and was inducted into the Songwriters Corridor of Fame in 2015. In 2021, Keith additionally turned a recipient of the Nationwide Medal of Arts.
In all, Keith had 32 primary singles and offered over 40 million albums.
His demise has introduced an outpouring of tributes from fellow nation music stars.
“Saddle up the horses, Jesus, ‘trigger a real blue COWBOY simply made his journey as much as heaven!!!” Carrie Underwood wrote on Instagram. “Introduce him to all of the Okies and signal that boy up for the choir!”
“At the moment is a tragic day for Nation music and its followers. Toby was an enormous presence in our enterprise and somebody all of us regarded as much as and revered,” mentioned Jason Aldean in an Instagram submit. “You and your music will likely be without end remembered massive man.”
“Too many rides in my previous man’s automotive listening to Toby Keith,” mentioned Zach Bryan in a submit on X. “Actually exhausting factor to listen to. Relaxation in peace good friend we love you.”
