Country singer Toby Keith dies at age 62

The singer passed away on Monday night after a years-long battle with stomach cancer. A statement posted to his website confirmed Keith passed away peacefully while surrounded by his family. The sometimes controversial country singer is known for bar-room ballads like “Red Solo Cup” and “Beer for My Horses,” along with post-9/11 patriotic anthems like “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American).” Keith publicized his cancer diagnosis in 2022 and continued playing shows throughout his treatments. He received the National Medal of the Arts in 2021 from former President Donald Trump and was most recently honored with the Country Icon Award at the 2023 People’s Choice Awards. He is survived by his wife, Tricia, three children, his mother, and two siblings.

Dig deeper: Read Arsenio Orteza’s report from the WORLD archives on the diametric opposition between Keith and the Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks).