Country singer Toby Keith has died at the age of 62 after a battle with stomach cancer.
Keith, who was diagnosed in 2022, passed peacefully on Monday surrounded by his family, according to a statement posted on the country singer’s website.
“He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time,” the statement said.
Keith performed at the 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards in September and received the Country Icon Award.Beer for my Horses singer performed at the 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards in September and received the Country Icon Award.
Sometimes a polarising figure in country music, the 193-centimetre singer broke out in the country boom years of the 1990s, crafting an identity around his macho, pro-American swagger and writing songs that fans loved to hear.
Over his career he publicly clashed with other celebrities and journalists and often pushed back against record executives who wanted to smooth his rough edges.
He was known for his overt patriotism on post 9/11 songs like Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue, and boisterous barroom tunes like I Love This Bar and Red Solo Cup.
He had a powerful booming voice, a tongue-in-cheek sense of humour and range that carried love songs as well as drinking songs.
Among his 20 No.1 Billboard hits were How Do You Like Me Now?!, Should’ve Been a Cowboy, As Good As I Once Was, My List and Beer for My Horses, a duet with Willie Nelson.
Keith worked as a roughneck in the oil fields of Oklahoma as a young man, then played semi-pro gridiron before launching his career as a singer.
