Country Icon Toby Keith Remembered In Multiple Memorial Services
The family of country legend Toby Keith Covel is preparing to celebrate his life in multiple memorial services following his recent passing at the age of 62 due to stomach cancer.
In an emotional Instagram post on Monday, Toby’s family announced plans for both a private funeral service for close family members, bandmates, and crew, as well as a public memorial service to honor the iconic musician. Details for the latter event will be shared on Toby’s official social media accounts in the near future.
As they navigate through this difficult time, the Covel family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Toby Keith Foundation’s OK Kids Korral, a charity close to the late singer’s heart.
Toby’s death on February 5th was confirmed by his family in a heartfelt social media statement, acknowledging his peaceful passing surrounded by loved ones.
“Toby Keith passed peacefully last night on Feb. 5 surrounded by his family. He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time,” the family wrote in a statement.
Since news of his passing broke, tributes have poured in from fellow country stars such as Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, and Dolly Parton, highlighting the actor’s enduring influence on the genre and his impact on those who knew him.
His daughter Krystal, herself a country artist, shared a poignant tribute on Instagram, expressing her devastation at the loss of not only a musical icon but also a loving father and grandfather. Krystal reminisced about the cherished moments spent with her father, both on and off the stage, and expressed gratitude for the years of love and support he provided.
In her words, “I am shattered. As great as he was in his career, he was so much greater as a dad and a husband and a Pop Pop. He was my hero. I am so lucky to have had him and so grateful he got to walk me down the aisle and meet my babies. That I have years of memories traveling the world as a family. I am blessed that I got to spend years traveling on the road and singing on stage with him. That I have mountains of video footage and endless tracks of music to watch him on and hear his voice with.”
Concluding the post, she wrote, “The pain is so unbelievably deep and it feels like I have a literal broken heart but I know that it wouldn’t hurt so bad if we didn’t love him and get to be loved so deeply by him. He never made me wonder if he would be there for me. Love YOU more dad. XO.”
Stelen, Toby’s son, also paid homage to his father in a heartfelt post, praising him as a source of strength and inspiration.
“You are a man whose strength, prowess, and talent could only be trumped by his ability to be a father and husband. Your impact is forever stamped on the world and on millions of people, yet not one person knew you the way I did. You were my biggest champion and the guiding light in my darkest times. The best mentor a man could ask for,” he wrote.
