Toby Keith Gives Update on ‘Roller Coaster’ Stomach Cancer Battle
Toby Keith made a triumphant return to the stage at the premier People’s Choice Country Awards on Thursday Night. It’s the first television performance Keith has given since announcing his 2021 stomach cancer diagnosis.
The “Red Solo Cup” singer waited until June 2022 to publicly disclose his illness, and since then has remained out of the public spotlight. Prior to hitting Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry to accept the Country Icon award, Keith gave E! News an update on the “roller coaster” of his cancer battle.
"I feel pretty good," he reflected. "It's a little bit of a roller coaster. You get good days and, you know, you're up and down, up and gown. It's always zero to 60 and 60 to zero but I feel good today." In June, he announced that his tumor had shrunk by one third.
After being honored by fellow country star Blake Shelton with a montage of his 30 year career, Keith performed his song “Don’t Let the Old Man,” from the 2018 thriller The Mule, which starred Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper. He said he chose the song because it was “fitting” for the fans whom he’s inspired through his battle with cancer.
“I’ve been going through my cancer fight for the last couple of years and it’s really inspiring for a lot of people,” Keith explained to NBC prior to the event. “Coming back on TV for the first time and performing live in front of a live audience, I thought it was fitting.”
In his acceptance speech, Keith paid tribute to those who had helped him in his career. “Everybody that’s all behind [my career]. All the great musicians that have played on all these albums, in the studios, they’ve poured their heart and soul into what I do,” he said. “Most of all, I want to thank the fans for still allowing us to do what we do.”
You can watch the full speech below.