Supporters rally behind Keith’s fight against gastric cancer, as he stands as one of the foremost icons in the realm of country music, even at the age of 61. The affliction was detected in autumn of 2021, but its disclosure to the public was delayed until June 2022. The skilled vocalist is currently undergoing diverse therapies, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. He expressed his intention to temporarily withdraw from his career to recuperate from the side effects of the treatments and prioritize quality time with his loved ones.
Later that month, he returned to the stage for a full show, also sharing more about the country singer’s health. He told “The Oklahoman” that he’s feeling pretty good and attended Toby Keith’s annual Gold Friends & Tournament gala in June to show his support. He had a positive health update to share, followed by months of staying out of the public eye and keeping a mostly low profile, while Toby mostly stayed below the radar.
Toby took to social media to share the above post, informing his fans that he was diagnosed with stomach cancer in the fall of 2021. After spending the last 6 months receiving surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, he wrote in the message reassuring his fans that once he felt better, he would be back on stage. He added, “I need time to relax, recover, and breathe. I can’t wait any longer. I will see the fans sooner rather than later. I am looking forward to spending time with my family.” -T.
The singer received an outpouring of support from his fellow country music stars and fans online. Two days later, he wrote a message to thank those showing love to him. “I have the best fans in the world,” Toby gushed. “Thank you all for your love and support.”
During that period, he managed to prevent the information from becoming known to the general public and had already been struggling with cancer for half a year when Toby made his news public. Following that, he persisted in privately combatting the illness, with his Instagram account solely featuring nostalgic photographs and videos rather than any fresh pictures.
What Is Stomach Cancer?
As per the Mayo Clinic, gastric cancer, also known as stomach cancer, is the result of cellular proliferation originating in the stomach. The Mayo Clinic further indicates that the majority of stomach cancers occur in the central section of the stomach, which is situated in the upper abdominal region, slightly beneath the ribcage, and aids in the process of food decomposition and digestion.
The esophagus is referred to as the conduit that transports food to the stomach. It is the section where the extended conduit that transports the food you ingest connects with the stomach. The website also states that in the United States, there is a higher probability of stomach cancer initiating at the gastroesophageal junction.
The cure for the disease may even be possible if it is treated and caught early enough. The chances of treatment are quite good at Mayo Clinic, especially for people with small stomach cancers. The prognosis depends on where the cancer cells are. Some treatment options include immunotherapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. The treatment depends on the stage of cancer, regardless of whether it is located only in the stomach or not.
Symptoms of stomach cancer can include more nausea, indigestion, heartburn, weight loss, eating small amounts of food after feeling full, belly pain, and difficulty swallowing.
How Long Has Toby Keith Been Sick?
Toby was diagnosed for the first time in the fall of 2021, soon after receiving treatment. It is unclear if he experienced symptoms before his diagnosis or if he experienced them before his diagnosis. He informed his fans months after finding out that he was battling a debilitating disease. He also admitted in an interview with Hot CMT that it was pretty debilitating to go through it.
How is Toby doing today?
In November 2022, Toby provided an update on his condition. Alan Cody told him, “I’m thinking about getting back in shape and fighting back. I just need a little bit of time to heal and rest.” He also mentioned that it’s pretty debilitating and we’ll have to see if things look good in the future. As long as everything stays hunky-dory, we’ll be able to go through it all.
Following his public disclosure about his cancer, he made his initial public appearance at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse in Lexington, Kentucky, during his visit for the Breeders’ Cup in early November 2022. During the event, he showcased his vocal talents by performing the songs “I Love This Bar,” “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, and “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding, all while displaying a noticeably slimmer physique. Subsequently, the interview took place after his unexpected musical performance.
Once again, Toby Keith hosted his annual Tournament Golf Friends & Keith Toby in June 2023. He was back in the public eye, and fans were happy to see him looking good and smiling. He also shared a rare new photo on Instagram, showing that he was in good spirits. In addition, he spoke to The Oklahoman about his condition. He also mentioned that he never knew about cancer, but now he knows that everything is basically a positive trend. He also mentioned that he is preparing for the gala tournament.
“I am prepared,” Toby stated. “And we will resume our work. All I need to do is check if I can endure two or three nights of work and have a short respite during this chemotherapy treatment. My only focus is to bring the band along and arrange for performances over a span of two or three days, simply to test if I can endure two hours. “I possess greater stamina [at present],” he expressed, while work was still not a priority for Toby at that moment, he did mention his aspiration to embark on a road trip and tour by the year’s end.
“And I’ve only got one that has appeared,” Toby clarified, in the June 2023 interview. “So I anticipate the next time I search for that tumor to be even smaller. I’m approximately eight weeks away from my previous scan,” he disclosed, but affirmed that he was still undergoing chemotherapy treatments at the moment. Toby revealed that his tumor had already reduced to one-third of its initial magnitude.

“Toby has returned!”…He sang all of the popular hits from the album Bus Songs++. The photos show Toby’s first rehearsal, which turned into a 1 and a half hour pop-up show. He was supposed to use the rehearsals to test out the songs before the actual shows, but he ended up performing full sets on both nights. Toby returned to the stage at his bar in Hollywood Corners, Oklahoma, for back-to-back shows on June 30th and July 1st, a month later.