Every country music lover knows the charm and passion of Toby Keith, whose songs can ignite intense emotions. Keith was born on July 8, 1961, from a humble background, living in Clinton, Oklahoma.
Due to his family’s unfavorable finances, Keith was compelled to get a job right after graduating high school. He worked in the oil industry, but his heart was in another realm. Ever since childhood, Keith grew an affinity for country music and picked up a guitar at a very young age.
After saving enough money, Keith flew to Nashville, Tennessee, where he tried all his chances just to get any exposure– he tried busking, distributing demo tapes, networking with local musicians, and whatnot. But a young unknown face needs much more to break into the industry since no record labels responded to him.
Returning home in despair, Keith promised himself that he would release his first album by the time he turned 30. Destiny agreed with his plan and worked its magic when a flight attendant, who was also Keith’s fan, passed on his demo tape to a man traveling on a flight. As it turns out, the man was Harold Shedd, executive of Mercury Records.
Shedd asked Keith to perform live as an audition and immediately signed Keith under Mercury Records after what he heard. With determination, he released a self-titled debut album in 1993, with the song “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” blowing up in the country music scene.
There was no turning back for Keith, as he became one of the most sought-after country musicians who wrote and composed his own songs.
But one song that made Keith a country’s pride was released in 2003, two years after the 9/11 attacks. He released the patriotic anthem “Courtesy of the red, white, blue (The Angry American),” symbolizing resilience and pride during tough times.
Thereafter, Keith performed for several American Military personnel charitable endeavors. He earned respect in the country music fraternity and was lauded with several awards, including Academy of Country Music (ACM) awards and Country Music Association (CMA) awards, among others.
He also ventured into acting with Broken Bridges in 2006. Keith has over 19 albums and two holiday LPs under his credit.
Besides artistic endeavors, Keith excelled in his entrepreneurial ventures with his famous restaurant chain, “Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill.”
He also launched his own record label, Show Dog Nashville, to help the careers of independent artists.
Toby Keith is first a family man, with his loving wife of 38 years, Tricia Lucus, two daughters, and youngest son, along with four grandchildren.
However, Keith’s musical journey had to pause due to his ailing health.
On June 12, 2022, Toby Keith announced on Instagram that he was diagnosed with stomach cancer in the fall of 2021. He has been battling cancer ever since, which led him to halt his musical activities to recuperate. But now he is back and thriving in the country music scene. Meanwhile, his youngest son, Stelen Keith Covel, is a pillar of his strength, who is also an entrepreneur, running several restaurants.
Is Toby Keith Sick? What Is Toby Keith’s Health Problem?
Toby Keith is an influential, famous, and reputed name in the country music industry, given his hit albums and being firm in his roots. His live performances are a treat, as he held concerts throughout the year. But during one of the performances on the CMT Hot 20 Countdown in 2021, Keith started feeling extremely weak and had to withdraw from the stage.
A month later, he announced that he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer. It took him several months of chemotherapy and treatment to feel stable. In December 2022, he said that he would be halting his activities to heal and recuperate from the harrowing treatment.
Fans showered him with support, wishing him a healthy recovery. And now, he is back on the stage, giving a performance of a lifetime.
He also received the Country Icon Award at the 2023 People’s Choice Awards.
In an after-show interview, Keith opened up about his battle with cancer, stating that some days are good while some are difficult of the roller-coaster journey.
Regardless, his fans are ecstatic to see him again grace the stage.
What Does Toby Keith’s Son Do for a Living? What Happened to Toby Keith’s Son?
There used to be a rumor about Toby Keith’s son passing away in a car accident but rest assured, Stelen is safe in 2023.
Stelen never wanted to be in his famous dad’s shadow. He established himself independently as an entrepreneur. He runs several restaurants, including Tequila Chulos, 405 Burger Bar, and Hollywood Corners. He also contributes to the family business by managing his father’s restaurants in various branches.
Stelen got engaged to his long-time girlfriend, Haley, in Las Vegas in June 2020. The couple tied the knot in November 2021 at Cascata Golf Club in Boulder City, Nevada.
What are your thoughts on this? Are you excited to see Toby Keith back on the stage? What is your favorite Toby Keith song? Let us know in the comments section below.
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