Toby Keith announces stomach cancer diagnosis, will postpone tour dates
Oklahoma country music star Toby Keith revealed Sunday that he has been battling stomach cancer since late 2021.
"Last fall I was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I’ve spent the last 6 months receiving chemo, radiation and surgery. So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover and relax," Keith posted on his official social media accounts.
"I am looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can’t wait."
More: 10 things you may not know about Toby Keith
Keith's publicist confirmed the diagnosis in a message to The Oklahoman.
— Toby Keith (@tobykeith) June 12, 2022
Toby Keith tells The Oklahoman he still enjoys performing for his fans
Keith's spokeswoman told The Oklahoman that the country star will be postponing tour dates. This month, he was slated to play a June 17 set at Ribfest in Wheaton, Illinois, and a June 18 show at the 29th Annual B-93 Birthday Bash in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with additional dates in July, August, September and November.
The Ohio State Fair announced on its Twitter feed Sunday that Keith's July 28 performance at at the Columbus event has been canceled and tickets purchased from Ticketmaster will be automatically refunded. Information about an alternate concert on July 28 is forthcoming, according to the announcement.
Our hearts go out to Toby Keith as he courageously battles cancer. Tickets purchased from Ticketmaster for his #ohiostatefair show on July 28, which has been cancelled, will be automatically refunded. Any information about an alternate concert on July 28 is forthcoming. https://t.co/Qi7rl0UagL
— Ohio State Fair (@OhioStateFair) June 12, 2022
Keith, who was born in Clinton, raised in Moore and lives in Norman, told The Oklahoman in a May interview that he still enjoys performing for his fans.
"I ain't working 130 shows (a year) no more. ... We don't do that many shows anymore. ... But one show, and we'll be right at peak performance," said Keith, who announced June 1 that his new single coming to country radio this month will be a cover of Norman songwriter Mike Hosty's beloved anthem "Oklahoma Breakdown."
Country star is a longtime advocate for cancer patients and their families
A Songwriters Hall of Famer, Keith, who will turn 61 on July 8, is a longtime advocate for families facing cancer diagnoses.
In 2004, Keith helped found Ally's House, a nonprofit group that aids Oklahoma children with cancer and their families. The charity is named for Allison Webb, the 2-year-old daughter of Scott Webb, one of the country star's original bandmates, and his wife, Linda Webb. Allison died Aug. 6, 2003, a month before her third birthday, of Wilms' tumors, a type of kidney cancer.
The country music hitmaker established in 2006 the Toby Keith Foundation to help Oklahoma children with cancer by building no-cost housing for pediatric cancer patients and their families. The mission was inspired by Linda Webb's experiences when she took Ally to Memphis, Tennessee, to receive treatment at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
"I remember her saying that when she took off to Memphis, she didn't have anything with her and didn't know what she was gonna do when she got there. But she wanted to get that baby as quick as she could in the hands of somebody that thought they might have something that might save her," Keith recalled to The Oklahoman in May.
"Once (she got there), they said, 'Here's Walmart cards, you're staying right there, there's soup and sandwiches 24/7. There's meals served here; there's toiletries here.' And she didn't want for nothing. I thought, 'What a relief that must be.'"
In late 2013, Keith, his family and supporters celebrated in Oklahoma City the grand opening of the OK Kids Korral, a $9 million home-away-from home for pediatric cancer patients and their families seeking care at The Children's Hospital at OU Medical Center and other nearby facilities.
Last week, Keith announced that his 18th annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic raised more than $1.38 million — the third-highest total ever — during the May 20-21 festivities in Oklahoma City and Norman. Overall, the event has raised more than $16 million to support the OK Kids Korral, which is now in its eighth year of taking in children with cancer and their families.
"We can't cure these kids. But we can facilitate them and their family while they are trying to get through," Keith said. "And it's been great."
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Toby Keith announces stomach cancer diagnosis, to postpone tour dates
