Let me tell you something about Toby Keith. When he walked onto the stage at the People’s Choice Country Awards in Nashville on September 28, it wasn’t just another performance. Fans were shocked by his appearance. The legendary "Red Solo Cup" singer, who once stood tall at 6-foot-4 and weighed around 235 pounds, looked noticeably thinner. This transformation wasn’t due to a diet; it was the result of his ongoing battle with stomach cancer, which he bravely announced last June. “You get good days, and, you know, you’re up and down,” the 62-year-old country star said during the ceremony, where he was honored with the Country Icon Award. “But I feel good today.”
Let’s be real for a moment. Life can throw some serious curveballs, and Toby knows that better than most. He’s been dealing with this illness for over a year now, and it hasn’t been easy. “It’s always zero to 60 and 60 to zero,” Toby has said, comparing his health journey to a roller coaster. Through countless rounds of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, he’s leaned on his family—his wife Tricia Lucus and their three adult children—and found solace in his faith. “I lean on my faith, and I just pray and lean into it,” he’s said. “It’s been my rock.”
Fighting Through It All
Toby didn’t just sit on the sidelines during his illness. Even though his body was frail, he took the stage at the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards, performing his powerful song "Don’t Let the Old Man In," from Clint Eastwood’s movie The Mule. Before the ceremony, he told NBC, “I’ve been going through my cancer fight for the last couple of years, and it’s really inspiring for a lot of people. Coming back on TV for the first time and performing live in front of a live audience, I thought it was fitting.”
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In June, Toby gave fans a glimmer of hope when he revealed that his tumor had shrunk by one-third. “I’m about another eight weeks out from my last scan,” he told The Oklahoman. “So I expect next time I look for that tumor to be even less—and I’ve only got one that’s shown up. Basically, everything is in a real positive trend.” But let’s not sugarcoat it: the treatments have been tough on Toby. He’s had 32 number-one singles and sold 40 million albums throughout his illustrious career, but even a superstar like him isn’t immune to the brutal effects of cancer. “There have been days when he can’t get out of bed, but he’s not feeling sorry for himself,” an insider shared with Closer. “He’s doing the best he can and not giving up on life.”
The Love and Support of Tricia
At his lowest points, Toby knows he can count on the unwavering support of his wife, Tricia. “He has the unwavering support of Tricia,” the insider confirmed. “That helps him to stay on track and keep moving forward.” Toby and Tricia met in an Oklahoma nightclub back in 1981. She was 19, and he was 20. “He was just one of those larger-than-life guys, full of confidence,” Tricia recalled. They got married in 1984, and Toby adopted her daughter, Shelley. Their family grew with the addition of Krystal and Stelen. In the early days, Toby worked in the oil fields during the day and played with his bar band, Easy Money, at night. When times were tough financially, he’d ask Tricia to have faith in him. “He’d say, ‘Trish, one of these days, my time is coming,’” she remembered. “‘Hang in there.’”
Turning to Faith and Philanthropy
Toby’s faith plays a huge role in his life, especially now. “I’m a follower of Christ, and I’m probably not the best example in the world,” the “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” singer once admitted. “But I believe in everything about him, and a lot of my life is operated upon the grounds of prayer.” An insider revealed, “Toby’s leaning on his faith to get through this. He prays a lot.” And if that wasn’t enough, Toby remains deeply committed to his pediatric cancer charity, OK Kids Korral, which provides lodging for children with cancer and their families. “It’s helped to put his own experience into perspective,” the insider noted. “If these kids can stick it out and keep smiling, so can he.”
Thinking about his own mortality has changed Toby’s outlook on life. “He sees the world through a different lens,” the insider explained. “He’s much more appreciative of what he’s got, but he’s not done living yet and he’s saying don’t count him out.”
