LEGENDARY country star Toby Keith has died after battling cancer.
The musician, 62, was surrounded by his family when he died on February 5.
Keith revealed in June 2022 that he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer and had been receiving chemotherapy and other treatments.
A statement shared on X, formerly Twitter, said, “He fought his fight with grace and courage.
"Please respect the privacy of his family at the time."
R&B star Anita Pointer of The Pointer Sisters dies aged 74
Keith, known for his hit track Should've Been a Cowboy, opened up about his battle with the illness just last month.
He described his fight with cancer as a "rollercoaster."
"So it's like, you just sit here and wait on it to go away, and it may never go away," he told the NBC affiliate KUSA.
He admitted that he was comfortable with what could happen in the future.
"I had my brain wrapped around it, and I was in a good spot either way," he said.
Keith previously admitted that the illness was debilitating, per Today.
He revealed he had been diagnosed with cancer in the fall of 2021.
He said that he needed time to breathe, recover and relax.
"I am looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later," he said when announcing his diagnosis on social media.
TRIBUTES FLOOD IN
Tributes have poured in from the world of music, film, and sport.
Celtic icon Frank McGarvey dies aged 66 as tributes paid to hero after cancer fight
Country crooner Randy Houser said, "God bless you and your family. Hard to imagine an America without Toby Keith in it."
PGA star John Daly said, "My heart is truly broken... one of my best friends gone by this disease. RIP Big Dawg."
"Heartbreaking news. Praying for his family. Thanks, Toby for being a badass and someone a singer like me could look up to," Mississippi country singer William Michael Morgan posted on social media.
"RIP big dawg."
Stephen Baldwin said, "Wow, this announcement has totally taken my breath away. I've been praying for Toby and it is truly wonderful to know he is finally home praise Jesus."
Kristy Swanson, who played Buffy Summers in the 1992 movie Buffy the Vampire Slayer, commented, "Rest in peace and love Toby Keith."
Lee Greenwood, known for his song God Bless The USA, posted three praying hand emojis.
'A CHARMER'
Keith is survived by his wife Tricia Lucus. The pair tied the knot in 1984.
She told People in 2001 that they met in a bar.
"I was 19 and he was 20. He was just one of those larger-than-life guys, full of confidence," she said.
Lucus gushed that Keith had moments of charm.
"Most people think he is just the most romantic person on the planet," she said.
They shared their three children. Shelley, whom Keith adopted after marrying Lucus, Krystal, and their son Stelen.
Keith's last Instagram post was a clip taken at his gig in Las Vegas.
The stetson-wearing crooner was seen lifting his guitar in front of adoring fans.
"And that's a wrap on the weekend, y'all. Back to it," he captioned the post.
Just last month, Keith performed at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Nevada.
The award-winning singer performed at Donald Trump's Make America Great Again Welcome Celebration in January 2017.
Trump awarded him with the National Medal of Arts in January 2021.
Keith's iconic track Should've Been a Cowboy was the most-played country song of the 1990s.
He was also known for the tracks Red Solo Cup, Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue, You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This, Beer for My Horses, and I Love This Bar.
