WATCH: Toby Keith Surprises With First Performance Since Cancer Diagnosis
“I haven’t worked in about a year,” he said from the stage.
Toby Keith with Jeff Ruby; Photo via Twitter
Toby Keith made his first public appearance since revealing his cancer diagnosis on Friday (Nov. 4) when he popped up on stage at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse in Lexington, Kentucky.
Keith, 61, was in Lexington for the 2022 Breeders’ Cup, which took place on Friday and Saturday at Keeneland Race Course. After a day at the races, Keith enjoyed a night out with dinner at Jeff Ruby’s and shocked patrons when he took to the stage for his first performance in a year.
“Welcome to the Breeders’ Cup,” he said. “I’ve been knowing this guy for a long, long time and I just told him back there I just came from London and France to get back to the Breeders’ cup. Jeff Ruby’s has the baddest f–king steak. I haven’t worked in about a year… Our tradition to get up here and sing with JR is we’ve got to do this song.”
The Oklahoma native joined Ruby and the house band at the high-end steakhouse for an impromptu performance of his 2003 chart-topper, “I Love This Bar, Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” Lynyrd Skynard’s “Sweet Home Alabama,” and more.
According to a Facebook post shared by Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment CEO Britney Ruby Miller, Toby Keith performed for an hour at the event.
“Toby Keith is on the mend!! After a year of fighting stomach cancer, he chose Jeff Ruby’s Lexington stage to sing with Jeff Ruby. His first time singing in over a year! …Toby sang for an hour,” Miller wrote.
Earlier in the day, Ruby shared a photo with Keith from Keeneland.
“If I lose a fortune at @keeneland today I will still have had a great day. Seeing @tobykeith alive, well,being Toby and looking great ( and trim too) was an incredible thing to see,” he wrote. “See ya tonight pal. Millions of your fans are happy as well.”
Keith’s appearance comes weeks after he was unable to attend his scheduled appearance at the SabesWings Second Annual Strike Out Fundraiser where he was being honored with the SabesWings Second Annual Lifetime Achievement Award.
In September, Keith shared a video statement to accept the honor virtually as he wasn’t up for traveling in the midst of a “tough week” in his cancer recovery.
Toby Keith revealed his cancer diagnosis with fans in early June.
“Last fall I was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I’ve spent the last 6 months receiving chemo, radiation and surgery. So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover and relax,” the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member wrote at the time.
He added, “I am looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can’t wait.”
In 2021, Toby Keith released his 19th studio album, Peso In My Pocket. The project includes the fan-favorite track, “Old School,” as well as his brand-new radio single, “Oklahoma Breakdown.”
Co-produced by Keith and Kenny Greenberg, the 10-track album includes songs co-written with Sammy Hagar, former front man of Van Halen, as well as cuts from the Warren Brothers, Ryan Hurd, Maren Morris, Jessie Jo Dillon and more.
With 32 No.1 singles and 40 million albums sold, Toby Keith is regarded as one of country music’s biggest hitmakers. He wrote a chart-topping hit every year for 20 consecutive years, including “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue (The Angry American),” “I Love This Bar,” “Beer For My Horses,” and “As Good As I Once Was.”
He is a recipient of the National Medal of Arts, was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (having already been inducted into the all-genre Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015), and was honored with the Academy of Country Music’s prestigious Merle Haggard Spirit Award.
Toby Keith will be recognized for his massive career success at the 70th Annual BMI Country Awards on Tuesday, November 8. While it’s unclear if he will attend the event in person, the prestigious BMI Icon Award will be bestowed upon him during the star-studded, invitation-only ceremony.
According to the press release, the BMI Icon Award is given to exceptional songwriters in recognition of their “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.”
Previous recipients of the award include: Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, and Hank Williams, Jr., as well as multi-genre royalty Stevie Nicks, Little Richard, Patti Labelle, James Brown, and more.
“We are honored to present Toby Keith with this year’s BMI Icon Award. Since the release of his single ‘Should’ve Been A Cowboy’ in 1993, Toby has been the gold standard of songwriting in the modern era of Country music,” says Clay Bradley, VP, Creative, Nashville. “Toby is not only a stellar songwriter, musician, and producer whose songs have amassed millions of performances; he is also a true humanitarian. With 11 USO tours under his belt, he continues to commit to honoring and serving our troops worldwide. No one is more deserving of this honor.”
In addition to his chart success, Keith is known for giving back. His annual golf classics fund the Toby Keith Foundation and OK Kids Korral, a cost-free home for families of children dealing with critical illnesses, and his 11 USO tours have enhanced the lives of nearly 256,000 troops and military families. In 2014, he was given the Spirit of the USO Award for his work with the organization, which has so far included 11 tours and more than 285 events. In an even more personal instance of philanthropy, he became the face of his hometown after it was ravaged by a tornado, shouldering the cleanup, and headlining the 2013 OK Twister Relief Concert.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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