American singer-songwriter Toby Keith Covel tragically passed away at the age of 62 from stomach cancer.
You might know him from his hits such as “Red Solo Cup” and “My List”. Toby was born July 8th, 1961, in Clinton, Oklahoma. Keith started playing music as a young boy after seeing musicians in his grandmother’s club. As an adult, he played defense in the USFL football league and also worked in the oil industry, but eventually decided to pursue music.
His first number 1 hit was “Should Have Been A Cowboy”. It remained in the number 1 spot for 2 weeks after first originally charting on June 5th, 1993. Throughout his career, he was nominated for 7 Grammys. His first nomination was for the song “I’m So Happy I Can’t Stop Crying” which was a collaboration with music artist Sting.
In June 2022, Toby revealed to the public that he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer in the fall of 2021. It states in Biography that, “He underwent surgery and received chemotherapy and radiation treatments over the course of six months. Still, he was eager to begin performing again.” Toby was always meant for the stage. Even in his darkest of times, he still wanted to get out there and perform, even taking the stage at People’s Choice Country Awards on Sept. 28, 2023 — the first time he’d done so since sharing that he had stomach cancer. For a little while, things were looking up. His treatments were progressing and there seemed to be a somewhat hopeful end of the tunnel. But his good health did not last long. Stomach cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer worldwide and affects men and people of color more than women or whites. Your risk of stomach cancer can increase due to genetics, certain medical conditions, a diet low in fruits and vegetables and high in processed foods, tobacco use, and your environment.
On the morning of February 5th, Toby peacefully passed away surrounded by family. His music will transcend generations and his talent will be missed. Rest in peace, Toby Keith.
