Toby Keith marked his first-ever stage performance since he took a break from the music industry due to his stomach cancer diagnosis.
The country musician decided to lie low and focus on his recovery in 2022 after he was diagnosed with the dreaded illness. Though he used his time to raise funds to support cancer-stricken patients through his foundation, he also reserved some to help himself prepare once he could be on the road again.
Only a week after assuring fans he was feeling good amid his health battle, he returned to the stage for the first time, where he was welcomed by his supporters.
Toby Keith Performs Again After Revealing Stomach Cancer Battle
Keith made the Fourth of July weekend celebrations extra special by holding his first shows since sharing last summer that he had been undergoing treatments for his condition.
ABC News cited The Oklahoman's report that the "Should've Been a Cowboy" hitmaker performed in front of massive crowds during his pop-up concerts in Norman on Friday and Saturday night. He conquered the stage at the 1920s roadhouse and service station Hollywood Corners, showing that he feels better than ever.
According to his publicist, the singer and his Easy Money Band performed non-stop for two and a half hours in both shows.
Joanna Hall, one of the Norman residents who watched Keith's comeback performance on Friday, revealed that the country musician offered a great performance and felt truly grateful for everyone who joined his shows.
"He seemed a little taken aback that many people were there," Hall said, per Fox News. "He was like, 'This was supposed to be a secret... This was a bigger secret than what I intended.'"
Toby Keith "Feeling Good" After Diagnosis
Keith first confirmed his diagnosis in June 2022 through a Twitter post and disclosed that he spent the last six months undergoing treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery.
He ignited concerns when he uploaded a photo of himself to support the #ChangeKidsHealth campaign in which he looked like he lost so much weight.
Amid worries, his recent performance assured the public that he is feeling better than before, supporting his previous statement about "feeling good" after over a year of battle against the dreaded illness.
Before his first shows, Keith made surprise performances in different places like Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse in Lexington over the past months.
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