The country music world is mourning the loss of Toby Keith at 62, with Kid Rock expressing his biggest regret about the singer’s passing.
His official website and social media channels confirmed the sad news early Tuesday, revealing that the singer passed away surrounded by his family on Monday night following an 18-month battle with stomach cancer. A statement from Keith’s representatives read:
“Toby Keith passed peacefully last night on February 5, surrounded by his family. He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”
Kid Rock’s Regret
Keith leaves behind a legacy as the ‘Should’ve Been a Cowboy’ singer, a loving husband to his wife, Tricia, and father to three children, Shelley, Krystal, and Stelen. His mother and two siblings also survive him. In the wake of Toby’s passing, Kid Rock expressed his regret to Fox News at not attending Keith’s final performances, saying:
“Man, I’m gonna regret… I was just out in Las Vegas when he was playing, and I had this commitment, and I told my fiancée, ‘I should just blow this commitment off and go see Toby.’ I just felt that was what I should do, and I didn’t, and I’m gonna regret that. I didn’t know it was in this stage, unfortunately.”
Rock reminisced about Keith, praising his talent, love for his family and country, and his fun-loving nature. The singer also shared memories of their times together at award shows, after-parties, and USO tours to entertain American military personnel overseas.
A Courageous Fight Against Cancer
Keith’s struggle with stomach cancer was public knowledge since June 2022, and he openly spoke about the ups and downs of his treatment. He shared the following with E! News at the time:
“You get good days and, you know, you’re up and down, up and down. It’s always zero to 60 and 60 to zero, but I feel good today.”
Despite his illness, the rocker continued to record and perform, with his final appearances taking place over three nights in Las Vegas in December. He delivered many of his 32 No. 1 hits and 42 Top 10 hits to an adoring audience in these performances.
The late musician grew up in Oklahoma City, worked in oil fields, and played in a band before music took center stage. His big break came when producer Harold Shedd discovered his demo. His first major hit, ‘Should’ve Been a Cowboy,’ became the decade’s most-played country song. Keith also released hits like ‘Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,’ inspired by 9/11 and his father’s death.
