Toby Keith is continuing his treatment for stomach cancer, which he was diagnosed with last year. Keith, who just announced his return to performing with three shows in Las Vegas, is doing everything he can to be as healthy as possible, for years to come.
“I feel pretty good. It’s a rollercoaster all the time with this stuff,” he said on the Sellout Crowd podcast. “I have the resources financially and otherwise to get the best treatments I can get. They’re taking great care of me and I’m getting all the latest stuff you can get. In fact, I’m going tomorrow to Florida to see another guy down there, that’s got some other kind of treatments, and I’m trying them all. I’m throwing the kitchen sink at it.”
In addition to focusing on his own health, the 62-year-old hopes his journey, and his healing, can inspire others as well.
@selloutcrowd_Conversations with Coach: “Cancer is an island and you’re on a boat and nobody goes over there to that island when you don’t have it and as soon as you crash land on it there’s a lot of boats on it.” Toby Keith joins Bob Stoops on Conversations with Coach to give an update on his health and his new perspective on cancer. For the full interview visit selloutcrowd.com and the Conversations with Coach YouTube page.♬ original sound – Sellout Crowd
“I have a big enough platform that if it can do me some good … I’ve seen all the pitfalls of this,” Keith says. “Cancer’s an island. You’re on a boat, and nobody goes over to that island. And as soon as you crash land on it, there’s a lot of boats there. Everybody’s got this stuff, and it’s more than people think. So I was like, ‘if I can survive this and live to tell my story, maybe I can save somebody else’s life.’”
Keith spent more than a year mostly away from the stage, and his fans, before announcing his return with the three Vegas shows.
“Y’all been waiting a long time to hear this,” Keith said when announcing the new dates, “I’ve been waiting a long time to do this. I’m back, come see me. You’ll have the best time, I will too. We’ll never forget it. Can’t wait to see you there. Let’s go,”
In a video announcing the shows, the Oklahoma native said he had never, in his career spanning more than 30 years, spent so much time away.
“It’s the first time in my whole life I’ve been off over two years,” Keith said. “I’ve never been off a year in my life. Through COVID, cancer, the devil’s been after me a little bit. I’ve got him by the horns right now. So instead of just sitting around and waiting, we’re gonna get the band back together.”
Keith had a surprise, multi-week, No. 1 hit with the live version of “Don’t Let the Old Man In,” a song that was first released in 2018. Keith performed the song at the People’s Choice Country Awards, where he was given the People’s Country Icon Award.
Keith’s 13-track 100% Songwriter album was released earlier this month, featuring some of his biggest hits throughout his career, all songs written entirely by Keith. Find all of Keith’s music and touring updates at TobyKeith.com
Read ‘Toby Keith: 11 Things To Know About the Patriotic Singer’ here.