Toby Keith opened up about his battle with stomach cancer for the first time since revealing his diagnosis in June.
61 years old Country music star He shared an update on his health and future touring plans during an appearance on CMT’s “Hot 20 Countdown.”
“I’m thinking about getting back into fighting form,” Keith said in a preview of the interview that was shared on social media.
Toby Keith opened up about his battle with stomach cancer for the first time since revealing his diagnosis in June.
(Jason Kempin/Getty Images for BMI)
He continued, “I need a little time to rest and heal.”
Toby Keith reveals his stomach cancer diagnosis; Get “CHEMO, RADIATION AND SURGERY”
“Little talking and a lot of action,” the playmaker admitted: “It’s very exhausting to have to go through all that.”
“But as long as everything remains in order, we will look to something good in the future.”
the singer He announced that he was suffering from stomach cancer and was taking leave to recover from treatment in posts he posted on his Instagram and Twitter accounts.
“Last fall I was diagnosed with stomach cancer,” he wrote. “I’ve spent the past six months receiving chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover, and relax.”
He added, “I’m looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I’ll see the fans sooner rather than later. I can’t wait.”
The “He should have been a cowboy singer.” He later canceled all of his shows planned for the rest of the year. However, he made a surprise appearance at Jeff Robbie’s Steakhouse in Lexington, Kentucky on November 4, where he reportedly performed songs including “I Love This Bar” and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama.”
On November 8, Keith received the BMI Icon Award at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn., joining a prestigious list of past recipients that includes Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Loretta Lynn, and Hank Williams, Jr.
Last month, Carrie Underwood and Eric Church honored Keith when he was honored at the BMI Country Awards.
((Photo by Erica Goldring/Getty Images for BMI)
During the ceremony, Carrie Underwood and Eric Church paid tribute to Keith, performing the songs “It Should Have Been a Cowboy” and “Love This Bar”.
Keith is a longtime advocate for families facing a cancer diagnosis, and helped found Ally’s House in 2004, a nonprofit group that helps Oklahoma kids with cancer and their families.
The nonprofit organization is named after Alison Webb, the two-year-old daughter of original Keith band member Scott Webb and his wife, Lisa. Alison died in 2003 of kidney cancer, before her third birthday.
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Following in the footsteps of Ally’s House, he founded the Toby Keith Foundation in 2006 “to encourage a healthy, happy Pediatric cancer patients. “
“In 2014, the foundation opened OK Kids Korral, a free, comfortable, home for pediatric cancer patients receiving treatment at OU Children’s Hospital, Stevenson Cancer Center, and other nearby facilities,” the foundation’s mission statement said.
Earlier this week, Keith shared a heart-warming photo on Instagram where he was seen holding a young cancer patient while they were both smiling and giving thumbs up.
Thumbs up if you’re celebrating #GivingTuesday by donating to @tkfoundation1! Written in the caption. “Your donations make OK Kids Korral possible, a home away from home for children battling cancer and their families.”
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Fox News’ Tracy Wright contributed to this report.