After announcing his stomach cancer diagnosis last summer, Toby Keith, the beloved country music artist, made a triumphant comeback to performing. He held a series of impromptu concerts in his birthplace of Norman, Oklahoma, over the Fourth of July weekend.
The singer of "As Good As I Once Was" drew hundreds of fans to his shows on both Friday and Saturday. One local resident, Joanna Hall, who was present at the Friday concert, praised Keith's outstanding performance in a chat with The Associated Press. She highlighted that the 61-year-old singer expressed profound gratitude towards everyone who attended.
"He seemed a little taken aback that that many people were there," Hall said. "He was like, ‘This was supposed to be a secret... This was a bigger secret than what I intended.'"
The media was informed by Keith's representative that he and his Easy Money Band entertained the crowd for approximately two and a half hours on both evenings.
According to a report from Fox News, Keith said he was "feeling good" and they "are anticipating Toby will be on the road again soon" after more than a year hiatus from the stage.
"All of this is good news," his reps added.
Almost a year ago, the singer famous for "Should've Been A Cowboy" publicly disclosed his diagnosis of stomach cancer, a battle he had been privately fighting for six months prior.
— Toby Keith (@tobykeith) June 12, 2022
"Last fall I was diagnosed with stomach cancer," the singer wrote in June 2022. "I've spent the last 6 months receiving chemo, radiation and surgery. So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover and relax."
He continued, "I am looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can't wait."
Keith, set to celebrate his 62nd birthday this weekend, shared with The Oklahoman in a previous month's discussion that his cancer treatment was ongoing. He revealed positive news: his tumor had decreased by a third in size, and his blood tests were showing encouraging results.
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