Toby Keith Returns to the Stage for Two Pop-Up Shows in Oklahoma During Stomach Cancer Treatment

The country singerโ€™s gigs in Oklahoma were his first since June 2022, when he revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer.

Over the holiday weekend, Toby Keith triumphantly made his stage debut for the first time since disclosing his stomach cancer diagnosis last summer. He gave two unexpected concerts.

On June 30 and July 1, the 61-year-old country singer performed two 2.5-hour sets at Hollywood Corners in Norman, Oklahoma, the bar and music venue he owns.

A July 1 Instagram post on his page stated, โ€œTobyโ€™s first rehearsal turned into a 212-hour pop-up show.โ€ He performed all the hits as well as the Bus Songs.โ€

The following evening, Keith posted again, revealing more images of himself laughing and holding a guitar alongside longtime friend and business partner Scotty Emerick.

The events were Keithโ€™s first set of performances following his June 2022 announcement that he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer the previous fall and was undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery.

The โ€œI Love This Barโ€ singer gave The Oklahoman a health update last month, stating that he was โ€œfeeling pretty goodโ€ and intended to go on tour once more by the end of the year provided he could maintain his strength.

โ€œIn general, everything is moving in a really favorable direction. With cancer, you never know, so you need to be ready, he said. I have more wind. And Iโ€™m considering setting up shop with the band and performing somewhere for two or three days to see if I can make it through two hours.โ€

โ€œAll I have to do is see whether I can get through two or three nights of work and take a short break from this treatment, and then weโ€™ll resume work,โ€ he continued.

According to Keith, who is still receiving chemotherapy, his blood tests are getting better, and his tumor has shrunk by about a third. He added that he saw a dietician and was undergoing immunotherapy.

As he told CMT in December, the artist needed โ€œa little bit of time to just rest up and heal upโ€ before doing so, but he had previously indicated an interest in performing once his health was back in order.


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