Toby Keith has been one of country music’s biggest stars for over three decades, and he continues to earn accolades today, but for the past two years, he’s been juggling his career with a strenuous and painful cancer battle. He says he’s made it this far because of his family and faith in God.
Toby, 62, was diagnosed with stomach cancer in October of 2021. It wasn’t until the following June that he went public with his illness. He did so to explain why he was taking a hiatus from the music world.
“I’ve spent the last 6 months receiving chemo, radiation, and surgery,” he said at the time. “So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover, and relax.”
“I am looking forward to spending this time with my family,” he continued. “But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can’t wait.”
Toby did return to the stage in December, but he was noticeably frail and thinner. He told News 9 that he’s still in treatment today, and many days are a struggle.
“Cancer is a roller coaster,” he admitted while talking to Robin Marsh. “So it’s like, you just sit here and wait on it to go away, and it may not ever go away. If it goes into remission, it will still be in the back of your mind.”
Toby Keith is ‘Comfortable’ with Whatever Happens
While the uncertainty could be too much for some to handle, the outspoken Christian relies on his trust in God to get him through.
“You have to have your faith,” he said. “Thank God that I got it, too. You take it for granted on days that are good, and you lean on it when days are bad. It’s taught me to lean on it a little more every day.”
Toby Keith shared that through this journey, he has “experienced a peace that surpasses all understanding,” and he has come to terms with the possibility that he may not win his war with cancer.
“I finally got to a point in the spring … where I was comfortable with whatever happened,” he continued. “I got my brain wrapped around it. And I was in a good spot, either way. People without faith don’t have that.”
The chart-topper has also leaned on his family for support. Toby has been married to his wife, Trisha, for 40 years. Together, they have three children; Krystal, Stellen, and Shelley, and several grandchildren.
“She’s been a trooper,” he said of Trisha. “She stepped right in, took control, and said, ‘We got this.’”
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