Toby Keith made his final Instagram post just one day before he died from stomach cancer, suggesting to fans he wanted to resume performing.
The singer, 62, on Sunday shared video of himself addressing an excited crowd during what is believed to be one of his three sold-out shows at the Park MGM hotel in Las Vegas last December.
‘And that’s a wrap on the weekend, y’all,’ he captioned the clip. ‘Back to it.’
Keith’s family announced the next day that he had died ‘peacefully’ on Monday night, surrounded by his family, after having battled cancer with ‘grace and courage’.
He is survived by his wife, Tricia Lucas, and their three children, daughters Shelley Covel Rowland, fellow singer Krystal Keith and son, Stelen. He also had four grandchildren. During his illustrious career, Keith sold over 40 million records.
Toby Keith made his final Instagram post just one day before he died from stomach cancer. He posted a video to Instagram (pictured), captioned: ‘And that’s a wrap on the weekend, y’all. Back to it’
Keith, pictured at the People’s Choice Country Awards in September last year, died ‘peacefully’ on Monday night, surrounded by his family
The video shared to his Instagram page appeared to be recorded at one of his three sold-out shows at the Park MGM hotel in Las Vegas last December. Keith is pictured during his last ever performance on December 14
Keith performed his final shows, a three date stint in Las Vegas, in December 2023. Afterwards, he even teased that he was planning a US tour saying he was ‘getting the trucks and buses fired up.’
Now, following his death, fans have commented on his final Instagram post, saying those who attended his shows last year ‘had no idea how lucky they were to be there’.
‘It’s sad that it was his last show and nobody knew,’ wrote one fan.
‘Rest in peace cowboy. You kept riding even when the ride was tough,’ another said.
One heartbroken fan added: ‘To go at it like this, until the very end: Now THAT’S the definition of a LEGEND. Toby, THANK YOU for everything you have given us over the decades. You gave us ALL of you 100% of the time.’
Keith’s mother Carolyn accompanied him onstage at Dolby Live at the Park MGM Las Vegas on December 12, which was one of the singer’s final set of shows.
In a video published on TMZ, Keith was seen saying, ‘I want to introduce you to somebody, this is my mom – she’s the one that taught me how to sing.’
In the clip, Keith and his mother were seen embracing onstage, with Keith jokingly telling his mother to tell concertgoers to ‘go to hell,’ to the amusement of the crowd.
Keith was first diagnosed with cancer in 2021. The Should’ve Been a Cowboy singer is pictured performing at the 46th annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala at the Marriott Marquis on June 18, 2015
Toby Keith’s mother Carolyn joined him on stage in Las Vegas during one of his final concerts, less than two months before his death. He is pictured with his mother during his childhood
He is survived by his wife, Tricia Lucas, and their three children, daughters Shelley Covel Rowland, fellow singer Krystal Keith and son, Stelen. He also had four grandchildren. Keith and his spouse Trisha Lucas were pictured at the The Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville last September
The Should’ve Been a Cowboy singer was first diagnosed in 2021. Earlier this month, the singer opened up about his stomach cancer battle in an interview with 9News.
‘I was going through all the chemo, radiation, surgery, and I got to the point where I was comfortable with whatever happened. I had my brain wrapped around it, and I was in a good spot either way,’ Keith said.
In the interview, he mentioned that his Christian faith was helping him through his cancer battle. ‘Cancer is a roller coaster. You just sit here and wait on it to go away — it may not ever go away.’
Keith, a longtime resident of Norman, Oklahoma, also called his wife ‘the best nurse.’
‘Oh, she’s been a trooper. She’s the best nurse. The first time we went to Houston, to the hospital, she stepped right in and she just took control and said, “We got this. Let’s go.” So she’s like, “We’re going to get this and don’t worry about it,’”‘ he added.
Fans, celebrities and fellow country music icons – including Carrie Underwood, Luke Combs and Jason Aldean – have paid emotional tributes to the county singing legend in wake of his death.
Carrie shared poignant throwback snaps with the star and paid tribute to the ‘true blue cowboy’.
She wrote: ‘Saddle up the horses, Jesus, ’cause a true blue COWBOY just made his ride up to heaven!!!’ Underwood, who was born in Muskogee, said in an
‘Introduce him to all the Okies and sign that boy up for the choir! We’re gonna miss you, Toby, but my heart has no doubt that you are standing in the presence of our King right now!!! See you again someday, friend.
Carrie Underwood paid an emotional tribute to county singing legend Toby Keith on Tuesday – following his tragic death from stomach cancer aged 62 (pictured together 2022)
Carrie shared poignant throwback snaps with the star and paid tribute to the ‘true blue cowboy’
Toby Keith is survived by his wife, Tricia Lucas, and their three children, daughters Shelley Covel Rowland, fellow singer Krystal Keith and son, Stelen. The singer also had four grandchildren. He is pictured with his family
The message posted on Toby Keith’s social media pages on February 6
Jason Aldean wrote: ‘Just waking up to the news of Toby Keith’s passing. Today is a sad day for Country music and its fans. Toby was a huge presence in our business and someone we all looked up to and respected.
‘You and your music will be forever remembered big man.’
Luke Combs penned: ‘Damn, RIP Toby. Can’t believe it.’
Jelly Roll, 39, took to Instagram to talk about Keith’s influence on his career.
‘Toby inspired millions and I was one of them,’ he wrote on his Instagram Story. ‘We covered should’ve been a cowboy at every show las year.’
Randy Houser, best known for his single Anything Goes, shared footage of him singing a cover of Keith’s 2003 track, I Love This Bar, which he called one of his ‘favorites.’
‘@TobyKeith… An American icon. They do not make ’em like him everyday in my opinion,’ ‘ Houser captioned his Instagram post. ‘It’s late at night or early in the morning but I wanted to sing one in his honor no matter what time it is. Rest In Peace. Job well done.’
He also commented under the tribute, made by Keith’s family. He wrote that it was ‘hard to imagine an America without Toby Keith in it.’
William Michael Morgan said the less left her ‘at a loss for words’ on Instagram.
Toby has left a lasting impact on the country music industry with fans applauding his ‘great talent’ and songs that have brought ‘much joy to so many people’. He is pictured performing with Black Shelton at the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards in April 2018
‘A true American. A true country artist. I know he is waking up with our Lord now. Prayers for his family,’ she concluded.
Austin Burke paid homage on social media as he described how this loss really ‘hurts.’
‘Toby and Garth brought country music through my Arizona radio growing up, and made me fall in love. WE not only lost a Country Music Legend but also an American Hero. His love for America and his love for our great Military is how I know he would want to be remembered,’ he wrote.
‘Completely heartbroken waking up to the news of Toby Keith passing,’ he said. ‘I thought he was on the mend. … It’s hard to see any life cut short but there’s something incredibly startling about seeing someone like Toby taken so young. My sincere condolences go out to his family.’
Singer-songwriter James Otto said he felt ‘blessed’ to have known Keith and declared that he ‘will never forget’ their days working on his American Ride tour.
‘Straight up and loved a laugh. Damn, I enjoyed my twin with him. Blessings to his family and friends,’ Matthew McConaughey tweeted.
‘Straight up and loved a laugh. Damn, I enjoyed my twin with him. Blessings to his family and friends,’ Matthew McConaughey tweeted
‘Toby inspired millions and I was one of them,’ Jelly Roll wrote on his Instagram Story. ‘We covered should’ve been a cowboy at every show las year’
Randy Houser, best known for his single Anything Goes, shared footage of him singing a cover of Keith’s 2003 track, I Love This Bar, which he called one of his ‘favorites’
‘@TobyKeith… An American icon. They do not make ’em like him everyday in my opinion,’ ‘ Houser captioned his Instagram post. ‘It’s late at night or early in the morning but I wanted to sing one in his honor no matter what time it is. Rest In Peace. Job well done’
‘I loved him as a musician. A great Oklahoman,’ Kristin Chenoweth tweeted. ‘A great American. What a loss!’
‘Toby and Garth brought country music through my Arizona radio growing up, and made me fall in love. WE not only lost a Country Music Legend but also an American Hero. His love for America and his love for our great Military is how I know he would want to be remembered,’ Austin Burke wrote
‘I would like to send my condolences and prayers to Toby Keith’s family and loved ones. We first met in Oslo many years ago while participating in the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. He was down to earth, funny and always ready for a good time. He will be greatly missed,’ Jada Pinkett Smith wrote in a touching Instagram tribute. ‘He will be greatly missed’
Keith has left a lasting impact on the country music industry with fans applauding his ‘great talent’ and songs that have brought ‘much joy to so many people’.
Kristin Chenoweth also took to social media to react to his death.
‘I loved him as a musician. A great Oklahoman,’ she tweeted. ‘A great American. What a loss!’
Stephen Baldwin wrote that the announcement took his ‘breath away.’
‘I’ve been praying for Toby and it is truly wonderful to know he is finally home. Praise Jesus,’ Hailey Bieber’s father wrote. ‘Rest in Peace and Love Toby Keith.’
Mourners have also hailed him as a ‘true legend’ and ‘true American patriot’ who loved veterans and showed an ‘amazing support’ for US troops.
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