Las Vegas Headliner and Nashville Icon Toby Keith Dies

Posted on: February 6, 2024, 01:22h. 

Last updated on: February 8, 2024, 11:52h.

Corey Levitan Read More
Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Expert Insight, Las Vegas, Las Vegas Myths.

Country music legend and Las Vegas mainstay Toby Keith died on Monday of stomach cancer at age 62. The news was announced via a statement posted to his website and social media accounts.

The statement released by Toby Keith's family
The statement released by Toby Keith’s family following the country superstar’s passing. (Image: Twitter/Toby Keith)

Keith — born Toby Keith Covel on July 8, 1961, in Clinton, Okla. — worked on oil fields during high school and played in the USFL football league before pursuing music.

His first gig in Las Vegas was at Arizona Charlie’s in 1993. He did two shows a night with a $10 cover charge.

That was before his breakout hit, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” that same year. For the next three decades, Keith enjoyed country superstardom. His hits included 1999’s “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” the 2003 Willie Nelson duet “Beer For My Horses,” and 2002’s “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American),” which was inspired by the 9/11 attacks as well as the death of his veteran father.

Keith performs his 2011 song, “Red Solo Cup,” in Las Vegas during one of his final appearances. (Image: tasteofcountry.com)

Keith was diagnosed with cancer in 2021 and revealed the news a year later on Instagram, telling fans that he had been undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery as part of his battle.

Final Vegas Appearance

Keith died less than two months after performing his final shows on December 10, 11, and 14 at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas.

The tightknit country music community posted tributes on social media throughout Tuesday morning.

“Today is a sad day for country music and its fans,” tweeted Jason Aldean. “Toby was a huge presence in our business and someone we all looked up to and respected. You and your music will be forever remembered, big man.”

“Too many rides in my old man’s car listening to Toby Keith, really hard thing to hear rest in peace my friend,” Zach Bryan tweeted.

Lee Greenwood tweeted that Keith was an “amazing artist, songwriter, patriot and man of faith” who “did things his way.”