Toby Keith: the country singer has died at the age of 62 after battling stomach cancer

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Country singer Toby Keith died Monday at the age of 62 after a battle with stomach cancer.

“Toby Keith passed away peacefully last night, February 5, surrounded by his family. He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time,” he said. published statement Keith’s website and social media said.

Elaine Schock, Keith’s publicist since 2003, confirmed his death to CNN. He leaves behind his wife, Tricia, and his three children, Shelley, Krystal and Stelen, her publicist told CNN. He is survived by his mother and two brothers.

Keith revealed his stomach cancer diagnosis in 2022.

“I have spent the last six months receiving chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. So far, so good. “I need time to breathe, recover and relax,” she said in a statement at the time. “I really want to spend time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner rather than later.”

He continued to perform and recently played shows in Las Vegas.

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Earlier this month, he posted a video. offering advice to other composers. “He just works hard every day,” she said.

Keith said most of his catalog was created while writing at least four or five days a week. “You have to have volume, you have to have practice, you have to maintain your skill and you have to stay in the middle of the game,” he said.

Keith performed at the 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards in September and received the Country Icon Award.

He released his debut album in 1993 and is known for hits like “Red Solo Cup” and “I Wanna Talk About Me.” His 2002 song “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American),” released after the 9/11 attacks, made him a household name.

Keith acted hundreds of shows for American service members overseas, including in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as at events for Presidents Donald Trump, Barack Obama and George W. Bush.

Sometimes he gave wounded veterans in wheelchairs in their concerts.

Keith, who describes himself as a third-generation Democrat, told CNN in 2010 that his support for service members had nothing to do with politics.

“There is nothing political about supporting the troops,” he said.

In 2021, then-President Trump awarded Keith the National Medal of Arts, which the National Endowment for the Arts describes as “the highest award given to artists and patrons of the arts by the United States government.”

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNN’s Marianne Garvey, Raja Razek, Amanda Jackson and Susannah Cullinane contributed to this report.