Speaker 1 (00:00):
This morning, the country music world mourning one of its brightest stars.
Speaker 2 (00:06): (singing)
Speaker 1 (00:07): Toby Keith passing away Monday night at the age of 62 after a battle with stomach cancer. A statement posted on his Instagram page saying the singer fought his fight with grace and courage.
Speaker 2 (00:21): (singing)
Speaker 1 (00:21): Keith, a former oil derrick worker from Oklahoma first topped the country charts in the 1990s with hits like Should've Been A Cowboy and How Do You Like Me Now?
Speaker 2 (00:32): (singing)
Speaker 1 (00:32): Later, he got the world's attention with his smash, Courtesy of The Red, White, and Blue
Speaker 2 (00:42): (singing)
Speaker 1 (00:46): Keith telling Today in 2019 about the impact of performing his patriotic songs on USO tours.
Speaker 2 (00:54): Every one of them is important and made so many friends.
Speaker 1 (00:58): And he continued with hit after hit, getting a new audience with Red Solo Cup in 2011.
Speaker 2 (01:11): (singing)
Speaker 1 (01:11): And performing at former President Trump's inauguration. An unstoppable force in country music, Keith has over 5,000 songs in his catalog, 42 top 10 country hits, and has sold more than 40 million albums. He stopped by Today, speaking about the legacy he wants in 2010.
Speaker 2 (01:34): The longevity is the last goal I have, just staying around. I really admire Willie and Merle, and those guys have been around for four or five decades.
Speaker 1 (01:42): In the summer of 2022, Keith shocked many fans by revealing his stomach cancer diagnosis, writing, "I've spent the last six months receiving chemo radiation, and surgery. So far, so good," speaking out about his battle as recently as this year.
Speaker 2 (01:59): This is a rollercoaster, and it takes a little while to get your brain wrapped around it. You can't let it define your future.
Speaker 1 (02:05): But he continued to perform, including at the People's Choice Awards, where he was honored in September.
Speaker 2 (02:12): (singing)
Speaker 1 (02:14): And accepted the Country Icon Award to a standing ovation. Now just last month, Toby Keith celebrated the 10th anniversary of his cancer foundation, which opens its doors to sick children and their families, providing them with a cost-free home during treatment. He has survived by his wife of almost 40 years, Tricia, as well as their three kids and grandchildren. And of all the many things he did, it is songwriting that I think meant the most to him.
Speaker 3 (02:45): He's in the Songwriter's Hall of Fame.
Speaker 1 (02:47): That, he is.
Speaker 3 (02:47): Just the three sold out shows in Vegas in December.
Speaker 1 (02:51): Unbelievable. Unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (02:53): Beautiful.