Toby Keith’s fans were concerned when he revealed that he would be taking a sabbatical from music to cope with a stomach cancer diagnosis in June 2022.
The artist explained that he was going through chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery and needed time to relax. Keith stated that he will take this opportunity to re-establish himself and spend time with his family.Keith makes his first public appearance since disclosing his illness in December 2022. The country singer was certain that he would return to the stage shortly.
You heard it here first! @tobykeith has plans to get back on the road after battling cancer 👊 More details on his road to recovery this weekend only on #cmtHot20! pic.twitter.com/3p3Rs5a1XM
— CMT Hot 20 Countdown (@cmtHot20) November 19, 2022
He did, however, concede that his body felt stressed. «It’s pretty debilitating to have to go through all of that,» he remarked, «but as long as everything stays hunky-dory, we’ll look forward to something good in the future.»
The «Red Solo Cup» artist posted a picture on Instagram advocating children’s health, but his look alarmed fans.
Keith’s continued smile and charity efforts gave many admirers faith that he would overcome illness, despite the fact that seeing him in his new physique was «disturbing.»
Keith’s journey to becoming a hit-making country musician was not easy, but along the way, he met his wife, Tricia Lucus, who would wind up sticking with him through thick and thin.After graduating from college, the singer wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and perform «typical roughneck stuff.» Keith made $50,000 per year as an oil field laborer.
When he wasn’t working, he and his band, Easy Money, would perform at various venues across Oklahoma, where he met his wife.
Lucus was 19 and working as a secretary at an oil business at the time, and Keith was 20. Lucus admitted she liked what she saw and believed the country singer emanated the type of confidence that filled a room. «I thought she was great,» Keith said as well.
The pair dated for three years before marrying in 1984. Keith was still working in the oil field at the time, but the business had crumbled, so he chose to focus more on his music career.Lucus would manage their creditors and take care of their family while Keith was on the road for his performances, but one thing Keith always did was convince his wife that he would be a great celebrity one day. «Trish, one of these days, my time will come,» Lucus remembers him saying. «Be patient.»
Keith was correct; his success came after resealing his initial record. «Should’ve Been a Cowboy,» one of the smash songs from it, topped the charts and became one of the most-played songs of the 1990s.The record also earned him honors, but Keith’s fame never got to him. He knew the road to the top would be arduous, so the recognition motivated him to strive more.
He never sought superstardom; instead, he stated, «You get too popular, and people get tired of you being on top.» I’ve never had that kind of celebrity. So my lamp is still burning.»
Keith was a country music phenomenon, but he never neglected his family life and always tried to be romantic at home. His wife, on the other hand, needed to advise him on what she thought was romantic.Lucus attributed her roses to her husband, but she always reminded him that roses only lasted five days and that if he truly wanted to create a lasting impression, he could surprise her with an outfit or take her out to dinner.
Date nights can take on new meaning now that her husband is a recording artist with a reported net worth of $10 to $25 million and 40 racehorses, especially since the couple lives on a 160-acre farm outside Oklahoma with an 8,500-square-foot home where they raised their daughters Shelley and Krystal and their son, Stelen.
The country singer may have enjoyed his hectic touring schedule, but it became much more difficult for him to leave his children once his father died.The couple had a prosperous family. Shelley, their eldest daughter from Lucus’ previous relationship, was adopted by Keith shortly after he married his wife. Krystal, their second child, has followed in her father’s footsteps and is a singer/songwriter signed to her father’s record company.
Stelen works in the music industry as well, albeit in a different capacity. Nostalgic Nights is his musical booking firm.