TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Country music legend Toby Keith has died, according to his official website and social media pages . He was 62.
A statement from his family said the “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” singer died on Monday night.
“Toby Keith passed peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family. He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time,” a statement said.
NBC News reported that Keith revealed he had stomach cancer in June 2022. Last September, the country music star said he went through a “roller coaster” experience going through treatment.
The country music singer was known for his overt patriotism on post-9/11 songs like “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,” and boisterous barroom tunes like “I Love This Bar” and “Red Solo Cup,” the Associated Press reported.
Keith’s breakout hit “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” was played 3 million times on radio stations, making it the most-played country song of the 1990s.
He had 20 No. 1 Billboard hits, including “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “As Good As I Once Was,” “My List,” and “Beer for My Horses.” The singer was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015.