Toby Keith was voted into the Country Music Hall of Fame the day after he died after a battle with stomach cancer. He was 62 years old.
Country Music Association CEO Sarah Trahern announced that singers Jon Anderson, 69, and James Burton, 84, will join Keith in this prestigious honor. I made this revelation on Monday.
“Each of the Hall of Famers had an indelible impact on country music,” Trahern said. per billboard.
In his speech about each inductee, Trahern said election rules prohibit them from being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in the year of their death. However, this was not the case as the late singer was elected before her death in February.
“Nominations will be made in the fall of 2023, with the first ballots sent to voters before the holidays, with final voting closing on Friday, February 2nd,” Trahern explained. “Our Professional Services Partner at deloitte They announced the results to us just a few days later. ”
“This year, we were scheduled to receive the names of our final Hall of Fame inductees on Tuesday, February 6th. As we now know, we woke up that morning to find out that our friend Toby Keith had been diagnosed with stomach cancer. “I received the heartbreaking news that we had lost a long battle,” she said. She further noted that she received the final vote from Deloitte just hours after the news broke.
“Truly one of the greatest honors of my job has been being able to let these inductees know that they are new members of the hallowed ranks,” Trahern said. “My heart sank that Tuesday afternoon knowing I had missed the chance to let Toby know while he was still with us.”
“But I’m sure he’s smiling down on us, knowing he’ll always be the same good guy he always was,” she wrote in Keith’s 2005 single. I concluded by touching on it.good as before”
A representative for the late singer told the Post that Keith’s family is grateful he was voted in.
“Our hearts are broken by Toby’s death,” his representative said. “We will miss him very much.”
“However, we are comforted that his music and legacy will live on forever,” the statement continued. “Thank you for contributing to the longevity of the Country Music Hall of Fame.”
Keith’s family announced the country singer’s death on February 6th.
“Toby Keith passed away peacefully last night, February 5th, surrounded by his family.” on X (old Twitter) read. “He fought with grace and courage. Please respect his family’s privacy at this time.”
Two weeks before his death, the “I Should Have Been a Cowboy” singer spoke out about his ongoing struggle. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2022.
“I went through all the chemo, radiation, and surgery and got to a point where I was okay with whatever happened. I was in a good place to wrap my head around it and be in a good place either way,” Country said. music award winners He told Oklahoma State News 9..
In the same interview, Keith praised his wife of 39 years, Tricia Lucas, as “the best nurse.”
“Oh, she was a trooper,” he said. “The first time we went to the hospital in Houston, she came right in and just took charge and said, ‘Now I understand.’ Let’s go.’ So she said, ‘ I was like, “Don’t worry, I’m going to get this.”
The official induction ceremony for the Class of 2024 is scheduled to take place in October at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee.
