Toby Keith, the renowned country music icon responsible for some of Nashville`s biggest hit songs, has passed away at the age of 62.
The statement on Keith’s website reads, ‘‘Toby Keith peacefully passed away last night on February 5, surrounded by his family.
We kindly request that his family’s privacy be respected during this time.
‘‘ Having been a prominent figure in country music for three decades, Keith achieved great success with hits like ‘‘Red Solo Cup,‘‘ ‘‘How Do You Like Me Now?!‘‘ and ‘‘Beer For My Horses,‘‘ a duet with Willie Nelson.
Eventually, music became his primary focus, and he received a major breakthrough when renowned producer Harold Shedd discovered his demo tape.
Keith’s breakthrough hit, ‘‘Should’ve Been a Cowboy,‘‘ debuted in 1993 and became the most played country song of the decade, with over 3 million radio plays.
He continued to produce numerous hits, including the 2002 song ‘‘Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American),‘‘ which was inspired by the 9/11 attacks and the loss of his veteran father.
The song famously sparked a feud between Keith and Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks (now the Chicks).
Maines, known for her opposition to then President George W.
Keith reportedly later expressed his feelings of “embarrassment” regarding his involvement in the feud.
According to reports, Keith later admitted to feeling “embarrassed” about his role in the feud.
Among Keith’s numerous achievements, he was honored as the Male Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music in 2001. In 2011, he received the prestigious Artist of the Decade award at the American Country Awards, and in 2015, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Additionally, in 2021, Keith was recognized with the National Medal of Arts.
Throughout his career, Keith achieved an impressive 32 number one singles and sold over 40 million albums.
Following his passing, fellow country music stars have expressed their heartfelt tributes.
Carrie Underwood took to Instagram and wrote, “Saddle up the horses, Jesus, because a true blue COWBOY just made his ride up to heaven!!! Introduce him to all the Okies and sign that boy up for the choir!”
Jason Aldean shared his condolences in an Instagram post, stating, “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.”
Zach Bryan also expressed his grief on X, saying, “Too many rides in my old man’s car listening to Toby Keith. Really hard thing to hear. Rest in peace, friend. We love you.”