The country music world is mourning the loss of iconic singer-songwriter Toby Keith, who died on Monday, Feb. 5, at the age of 62 after battling stomach cancer.
A statement shared on the multiplatinum-selling musician’s website said the singer “passed peacefully” and was “surrounded by his family. He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”
Mr. Keith first emerged on the country music scene in the early 1990s. He made his debut in 1993 with the release of his self-titled album, “Toby Keith,” which featured his breakthrough hit, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.”
Over the span of his more than three-decades-long career, Mr. Keith released 21 albums in total, including 1996’s “Blue Moon,” 2002’s “Unleashed,” 2003’s “Shock’n Y’all,” and 2005’s “Honkytonk University.”
The Making of a Country Music Icon
The Oklahoma native was born on July 8, 1961, in the small town of Clinton. His family later moved to Moore, a suburb located outside of Oklahoma City. However, Mr. Keith previously credited a summer he spent in Fort Smith, Arkansas, for stoking his interest in music.
When he was about 12 years old, Mr. Keith visited his grandmother’s Arkansas-based dining establishment, Billy Garner’s Supper Club, where he got his first real taste of live music.
Mr. Keith said he stayed the whole summer and knew he had to find his way onto the bandstand.
“I wanted to be the guitarist in a band,” he told The Herald. “I didn’t know that I was going to write songs, but I’d watch the people coming into the nightclub part out back, all dressed up for a good time, and then see the band strike up and I’d think, I want to be part of this.”
Mr. Keith paid homage to his grandmother and her nostalgic supper club with his 15th studio album, dubbed “Clancy’s Tavern” in honor of her nickname. Released in 2011, the album’s third track is a song of the same name.
Lyrics from the song’s chorus read: “And the regular Joe’s of the world, are singing, here’s to you, Clancy, and your neighborhood tavern. Pour me another, my girl.”
Toby Keith’s Final Show
Mr. Keith’s final round of concerts took place in December during a three-night run at the Park MGM in Las Vegas. He performed some of his most popular hits to a sold-out crowd and took to Instagram on Dec. 28 to call the shows a “good way to end the year.”“Global country superstar, award-winning singer/songwriter, devoted and beloved activist, business powerhouse, Toby Keith is a multidimensional artist like no other,” Mr. Shelton said. “A global megastar, a man of the people, and a genuine inspiration, Toby Keith is a true country icon.”
“I bet y’all never thought you’d see me in skinny jeans,” Mr. Keith quipped at the start of his acceptance speech.
“I want to thank the Almighty for allowing me to be here tonight,“ he continued. ”He’s been riding shotgun with me for a little while now. I want to thank my beautiful family that’s here. A lot of people go into making a career like this of 30 years.”
Mr. Keith added: “Most of all I want to thank the fans for still allowing us to do what we do.”
After giving his speech, the country star gave what would be his last television performance, taking the stage of the historic Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, to belt out 2018’s “Don’t Let the Old Man In.”
He sang: “Many moons I have lived, my body’s weathered and worn, ask yourself how would you be, if you didn’t know the day you were born. Try to love on your wife, and stay close to your friends, toast each sundown with wine, don’t let the old man in.”
