Nation music singer-songwriter Toby Keith dies at 62
Keith died on Monday, in response to his publicist. His hits included “Crimson Solo Cup,” “How Do You Like Me Now?!” and “Beer For My Horses” — a duet with Willie Nelson.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “SHOULD’VE BEEN A COWBOY”)
TOBY KEITH: (Singing) I ought to’ve been a cowboy. I ought to’ve realized to rope and trip.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Nation celebrity Toby Keith has died on the age of 62. His publicist confirmed the information to NPR. A message posted on Keith’s web site says he handed away peacefully final night time, surrounded by his household. It provides that he fought his struggle with grace and braveness.
LEILA FADEL, HOST:
No explanation for loss of life was shared, however Keith had been sick. He introduced in 2022 that he’d been present process remedy for abdomen most cancers.
MARTIN: On this video lately posted on his X feed, Keith talked about when he began writing music.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
KEITH: First time I ever wrote, I used to be 14 or 15 years outdated. It wasn’t dangerous. It was structured proper. However that was 5,000 songs in the past.
FADEL: Keith was recognized for his macho, pro-America swagger and his public clashes with journalists, different celebrities and report executives.
MARTIN: Keith had a string of hits, together with “Crimson Solo Cup”…
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “RED SOLO CUP”)
KEITH: (Singing) Crimson Solo cup, I fill you up. Let’s have a celebration.
MARTIN: …And “Beer For My Horses,” that includes Willie Nelson.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “BEER FOR MY HORSES”)
TOBY KEITH AND WILLIE NELSON: (Singing) Whiskey for my males, beer for my horses.
FADEL: His breakout hit, “Ought to’ve Been A Cowboy,” received some 3 million radio performs, making it essentially the most performed nation track of the Nineteen Nineties.
MARTIN: Keith earned seven Grammy nominations however by no means received. He was inducted into the Songwriters Corridor of Fame in 2015.
FADEL: Final 12 months, Keith received the inaugural Nation Music Icon Award on the Folks’s Alternative Nation Awards. In his speech, he thanked God, his household and his group.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
KEITH: And most of all, I need to thank the followers for nonetheless permitting us to do what we do. So…
(CHEERING)
KEITH: God bless y’all. Have an exquisite night. Thanks.
(CHEERING)
Copyright © 2024 NPR. All rights reserved. Go to our web site phrases of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for additional data.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This textual content will not be in its closing kind and could also be up to date or revised sooner or later. Accuracy and availability could fluctuate. The authoritative report of NPR’s programming is the audio report.
