People have always known Toby Keith as a man of the people. His humility made him seem like your neighbor next door, not the A-list country music celebrity he was. Just a guy from Oklahoma, Keith’s main musical motivation was the fans, and seemingly carried this attitude all the way up until his death in February of 2024.
An instance proving this to be true is his final performance while fighting gastric cancer. Performing at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas in December of 2023, Keith conducted himself on stage as if nothing was wrong. Indulging fans and singing his hits at the venue, he knew what fans wanted and he gave it to them despite his hardships. A selfless deed and just one of the many reasons Toby Keith passed as a humble class act.
Toby Keith’s Third Sold-Out Show
Keith’s final performance came as the final show in a string of three. All of which were sold out. According to MGM Resorts, the venue seats about 5,200 people. It can be estimated that Keith sold around 15, 600 tickets during just those three shows. That said, it seemed fans knew this could possibly be one of the last times Keith ever performed live. Thus, fans rallied and celebrated Keith for one final stint.
Following the final show in Vegas, Keith wrote on his Instagram page, “3 sold out shows in Vegas was a damn good way to end the year.” Both fulfilling his dreams and his fans, the final Vegas performance held a musical magnitude bound to makes its mark on the world of music for years to come.
Two Months Later
Around two months after his final performance, Keith tragically passed on February 6, 2024, from his two-year-long battle with stomach cancer. Despite the public’s knowledge of his illness, his passing still came as a shock. As Keith’s grit and willpower made it seem he had kicked cancer to the curb.
Unfortunately, he did not, and following his death his website released an official statement saying, ‘Toby Keith passed peacefully last night on Feb. 5, surrounded by his family. He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”
His persistence and dedication to both his music and his fans are the definition of admirable. Keith was a fighter, a survivor, and will be remembered as such due to his final show and the vast amount of other commendable deeds he performed.
Photo by AFF-USA/Shutterstock
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