PHOTOS: Toby Keith Makes Triumphant Return To The Stage Amid Cancer Battle With Surprise Pop-Up Performances
Amidst his ongoing battle with stomach cancer, country superstar Toby Keith remains optimistic about his return to the road.
Toby Keith; Photo Courtesy Suzanne Cordeiro
Toby Keith is back! The country superstar returned to the stage amid his stomach cancer battle for not just one, but two, surprise, pop-up performances in his home state of Oklahoma this weekend.
The shows, which took place at his Hollywood Corners venue in Norman, Oklahoma, featured Keith performing alongside a full band and reportedly ran over two hours.
A post to Toby Keith’s official social media accounts read, “Toby‘s first rehearsal turned into a 2 1/2 hour pop-up show. He sang all the hits plus the Bus Songs…Toby is back.”
The second night’s show included a surprise appearance from Keith’s longtime songwriting pal, Scotty Emerick.
“It felt so right, Toby had to do it twice,” a second social media post confirmed.
@kylerainermusic When your show at Hollywood Corners last night gets cancelled for the boss man himself, @Toby Keith, you make a date night out of it! Glad to see him back on stage…been too long! Welcome back TK! #tobykeith #hollywoodcorners #whosyourdaddy #bossman #howdoyoulikemenow #ilovethisbar #welcomeback #redsolocup #kylerainer #kylerainermusic ♬ original sound – KyleRainerMusic
Toby Keith’s return to the stage comes after the “Oklahoma Breakdown” singer gave a detailed update about his health and shared his hopes for returning to the stage in an interview with The Oklahoman.
While backstage at the Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic pre-tournament gala on June 2 at the Riverwind Casino, Keith revealed that he was eager to get back on stage.
“I feel better; I’ve got more wind. And I’m thinking about bringing the band in and setting up, playing two or three days somewhere just to see if I can get through two hours,” Keith said at the time, adding, “And if I do, (I’ll) be out on the road this fall. All I got to do is see if I can get through two or three nights of work and get a little break in this chemo, and we’ll go back to work. I’m ready.”
These two shows mark Keith’s first official headlining performances since being forced to cancel all of his tour dates in June of 2022 due to his stomach cancer diagnosis.
While his touring plans still remain unknown, Keith shared an encouraging health update while chatting with The Oklahoman.
“I’m feeling pretty good. … I’m about another eight weeks from my last scan. So, I expect next time I look for that tumor to be even less — and I’ve only got one that’s shown up,” Keith explained. “Basically, everything is in a real positive trend. You never know with cancer, so you have to prepare.”
Despite feeling better, Keith is still battling cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. However, his tumor has shrunk by a third and his blood tests continue to improve with each new test.
The Oklahoma-based media outlet also reported that he is also undergoing “immunotherapy and working with a nutritionist.”
“They put oxygen in your blood. They give you high doses of vitamin C and good vitamins and nutrient bag you up to where you feel better. And you can start trying to heal your body,” Toby Keith, who will celebrate his 62nd birthday on July 8, added.
“Now, they’re trying to fight where the cancer backs up and says, ‘Oh, you’re fighting that tumor? We’re gonna remorph and turn into this kind of cancer.’ … So, while they (the cancer cells) are in the bullpen regrouping, we’re trying to kill ’em with something different,” he continued.
Throughout the past year, Toby Keith has made several surprise appearances at different establishments such as Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse, Eskimo Joe’s Sports Bar, The Noun Hotel and more.
The country crooner also celebrated the Oklahoma University (OU) softball team’s National Championship win on Thursday, June 8, at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill in Oklahoma City.
At the event, the country superstar joined several OU softball players on stage at his restaurant to sing his 1999 hit, “How Do You Like Me Now?!” and the clip has since gone viral.
In addition, Toby Keith recently made an appearance at the 19th Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic, which took place in early June. The two-day event, which included a golf tournament and dinner, raised a record $1.8 million in support of OK Kids Korral, the cost-free home for families of children battling cancer. The Friday night dinner was headlined by chart-topping country group Sawyer Brown. 750 guests attended the denim and rhinestones-themed soirée, which also included a record-setting auction.
Altogether, the Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic has raised nearly $18 million. The funding supports The Toby Keith Foundation, which helped construct OK Kids Korral in support of Oklahoma pediatric cancer patients.
“Next year, it’ll be the 10th year for OK Kids Korral, 20th year of my foundation party,” Keith also told The Oklahoman at the event. “We’re gonna celebrate a 10 and a 20, and we’re gonna blow it out. It’s amazing how much support we get. But it takes that kind of support to handle 300 families a year.”
Toby Keith is filled with optimism as he looks forward to hitting the road again this fall, although there have been no official announcements made yet. Stay updated by visiting his official website for the latest news and updates.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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