Country music star Toby Keith has announced that he has tragically been diagnosed with stomach cancer. According to CNN, he received the diagnosis last year, but has received treatment for it and plans on returning to live performing again soon. It was in a statement posted to social media that he confirmed he was diagnosed with stomach cancer last fall.
“I’ve spent the last 6 months receiving chemo, radiation and surgery. So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover and relax,” the statement says. “I am looking forward to spending time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can’t wait. -T”
Toby Keith announces stomach cancer diagnosis
— Toby Keith (@tobykeith) June 12, 2022
Currently, Keith is slated to play the Ribfest in Illinois on June 17. He also most recently released his latest album called Peso in my Pocket last year after taking some time off from touring due to the pandemic. It was then that former President Donald J. Trump awarded Keith with the National Medal of Arts, which is described as “the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government.”
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“Toby Keith is a singer, songwriter, musician, and humanitarian who has completed 11 USO Tours to date. He has 32 #1 singles,” said the National Endowment for the Arts in a January 2021 release.
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Keith released his debut album in 1993, later becoming best known for hits such as “Red Solo Cup” and “I Wanna Talk About Me.” However, perhaps it was his song “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American),” that was released after the 9/11 terrorist attacks that made him a commercial success. Since then, Keith has done a number of performances for military members abroad, including in Afghanistan and Iraq. He’s also performed at events for presidents Donald Trump, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush.
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