Carrie Underwood, Jelly Roll and More Country Stars Pay Tribute to Toby Keith After His Death: 'An American Icon'

The country music legend “passed away peacefully” Monday night after being diagnosed with stomach cancer two and a half years ago

Toby Keith is remembered by the country music community after his death at the age of 62.

Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Old Dominion, Jelly Roll, Zach Bryan, Randy Houser, William Michael Morgan, Austin Burke and James Otto were among the stars who paid tribute to the “Red Solo Cup” singer on Tuesday, after his family shared news of his death on social media a few hours earlier.

“Saddle your horses, Jesus, because a true blue COWBOY has just ridden up to heaven!!!” Underwood, 40, wrote on Instagram, sharing a gallery of photos of herself and Keith over the years. “Introduce him to all the Okies and enroll that boy in the choir!”

“We will miss you Toby, but my heart has no doubt that you are standing in the presence of our King right now!!” she added. “See you again one day, my friend.”

Aldean, 46, calls Keith’s death “a sad day for country music and its fans.” He said: “Toby was a huge presence in our business and someone we all looked up to and respected. You and your music will forever be remembered as a great man.”

“Toby inspired millions and I was one of them,” Jelly Roll, 39, wrote on his Instagram Story, noting that he covered Keith’s “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” at “every show last year.”

Old Dominion shared their condolences on Instagram. “Toby Keith was a true pioneer,” the group said. “Authentic and honest but always with a wink to the end. He was larger than life in so many ways and his music will live on forever! Tonight we raise our red solos – you will be missed by many. Peace.”

“I drove around in my old man’s car listening to Toby Keith too much,” tweeted Bryan, 27. “That’s really hard to hear. Rest in peace my friend, we love you.”

Houser, 48, posted a video of himself singing a cover of “I Love This Bar,” Keith’s 2003 song, calling it “One of my favorites that he and Scotty Emerick wrote.”

“@TobyKeith… An American icon. They don’t make ’em like him every day, in my opinion,” Houser wrote, adding, “It’s late at night or early in the morning, but I wanted to sing one in his honor no matter what time it is. Rest in peace in peace. A job well done.”

He also paid tribute to the star, writing on Instagram below his family’s post about the tragic news: “God bless you and family. Hard to imagine America without Toby Keith.”

“I’m speechless,” Morgan, 30, wrote in an Instagram post. “A true American. A true country artist. I know he is waking up with our Lord now. Prayers for his family.”

Burke, 28, paid tribute to Keith’s love of America in his Instagram story. “This hurts,” Burke wrote. “Toby and Garth brought country music to my radio station in Arizona growing up and made me fall in love. WE have NOT only lost a country music legend, but an American hero. I know he would want to be remembered for his love for America and for our great military.”

Meanwhile, Otto, 50, recalled working with Keith during the American Ride tour, an experience he was “blessed” and said he will “never forget”.

“I woke up completely heartbroken to the news of Toby Keith’s death,” he said. “I thought he was recovering… It’s hard to see any life cut short, but there’s something incredibly stunning about seeing someone like Toby so young. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family.”

Toby Keith died at the age of 62 after being diagnosed with stomach cancer: ‘Passed peacefully’

Toby Keith in concert at the Comcast Theater.

Mediapunch/Shutterstock

Outside of the country world, other tributes came from stars like Kristin Chenoweth, Stephen Baldwin, Kristy Swanson, Pat McAfee and Donald Trump Jr.Both Chenoweth, 55, Baldwin, 57, and Swanson, 54, wrote under their family’s post, “Loved him as a musician. Great Oklahoman,” Chenoweth said. “A great American. What a waste!”

“Wow, this post totally took my breath away. I’ve been praying for Toby and it’s so great to know he’s finally home. Praise Jesus,” Baldwin said, while Buffy the Vampire Slayer the actress commented: “Rest in peace and love Toby Keith.”

Tribute to celebrities who died in 2023

Keith’s family shared on social media that he “passed peacefully” on Monday evening, after being diagnosed with stomach cancer in the fall of 2021.

“Toby Keith passed away peacefully last night, February 5, surrounded by his family. He fought his battle with grace and courage,” his family said in a statement, adding: “Please respect his family’s privacy at this time.”

Keith broke onto the country scene in 1993 with “Should Have Been a Cowboy,” before producing several other hit songs, including “I Love This Bar,” “As Good as I Once Was” and “Beer for My Horses ” with Willie Nelson. The country singer, who has been outspoken about his patriotism, also wrote the song “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” after the 9/11 attacks.

He has won several accolades for his music over the years, including Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year at the 2001 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards. He also won the ACM’s Entertainer of the Year in 2003 and 2004, and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015.

Keith has also played for several US presidents including George W. Bush. Barack Obama and Donald Trump, and the latter even awarded him the National Medal of Arts.

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The songwriter played his first official headlining show since revealing his cancer diagnosis at Park MGM in Las Vegas in December 2023 — in what would become one of his final shows. In a video he shared on YouTube announcing the shows, he described them as “sort of rehab shows” that would “get the band back in sync, get me going again.”

“Because of COVID and cancer, the old devil is haunting me a bit,” added Keith. “I’m holding him by the horns right now, so instead of just sitting around and waiting, we’re going to get the band back together.”

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