(LibertySons.org) – Toby Keith Covel, known as just Toby Keith, was arguably one of the most beloved American entertainers of his generation. He made a name for himself in country music but also because of his support for the US military. Sadly, he has now passed away after a difficult battle with cancer.
On February 6, a message on Toby Keith’s X, formerly Twitter, account announced the singer’s death. It stated that he passed away the day before, “surrounded by his family.” The country star died from stomach cancer, an illness doctors diagnosed him with in late 2021.
Keith, born in Clinton, Oklahoma, rose to fame in the 1990s. His first single, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” show to number one on the Billboard country chart in 1993. He had multiple hits in the ‘90s, then in 1999, he released “How Do You Like Me Now?!” It went to number one and became the top country song of 2000 on Billboard’s chart.
The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks had a major impact on Keith. In 2002, his song “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” became wildly popular. The tune captured the anger Americans were feeling after watching thousands perish in the attacks. Keith once said he wrote the song in 20 minutes because he wanted “something to play for our fighting men and women.”
The same year of the song’s release, Keith partnered with the USO and performed 18 times for troops deployed overseas. He even headlined a Fourth of July tour at Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) in North Carolina.
In addition to his music career, Keith made an appearance on multiple episodes of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he wrestled in a match with Scott Hall (known as Razor Ramon on the WWE). He also starred in two films, one of which was about his song with Willie Nelson, “Beer for My Horses.”
Throughout his career, Keith had 20 number-one hit songs and was nominated for seven Grammy Awards, though he never won. In 2023, he was awarded the Country Icon Award at the People’s Choice Country Awards. He is survived by his wife and three children.
~Here’s to Our Liberty!
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