Bakersfield mourns country star Toby Keith who died from stomach cancer at 62

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Toby Keith, one of the biggest stars to come out of Nashville in recent decades, lost an 18-month battle with stomach cancer Monday night in his native Oklahoma with his family by his side. He was 62.

Funny, macho, self-deprecating and intensely patriotic, Keith landed more than 60 singles on the country chart, including 23 No. 1 hits. He sold 40 million albums worldwide, recording in styles ranging from honky-tonk to pop-country balladry to Southern rock. Forbes magazine called him “Country’s $500 million man” and claimed his personal wealth exceeded that of Jay-Z and Beyoncé combined.

Keith qualified as an honorary resident of Bakersfield, and not just because he played here multiple times, most recently August 2019.

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First, of course, was the country music: His discography of hits had him approaching the same stratosphere as two of his Bakersfield idols, Merle Haggard and Buck Owens.

“I used to go there (to the Crystal Palace) and hang out with Buck Owens,” Keith said in a 2019 interview with KGET. “Him and Don Rich were the Bakersfield Sound.”

Keith’s experience as an oilfield roustabout gave him the sort of authenticity that fans embraced. And his Oklahoma heritage came through in a city replete with Oklahoma connections.

Oilfield supervisor Eric Standridge was a fan.

“He’s a great American,” Standridge said. “It doesn’t get any better. We’re gonna miss him.”

It was like a companywide day of mourning at KUZZ radio, where Toby Keith’s music was a staple every day anyway – but he was being played twice an hour Tuesday.

Music Director Kenn McCloud said Keith spoke to people.

“Toby’s gift was to be able to talk to everyman,” McCloud said, “but also to make fun of himself a little bit.”

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Keith went from the oilfield to the gridiron, playing defensive end for a semi-pro team.

“He used to be a big guy,” Standridge said. “He wasn’t so big lately, but he’s the big guy, just had that real outgoing personality that you love.”

“He had that blue collar image,” McCloud said. “That’s what made people in Bakersfield love him so much. He’s one of them.”

Toby Keith’s loss, McCloud said, is a loss for the entire industry.

“I know how devastated he was when Merle (Haggard) passed at his age (of 79),” McCloud said. “I mean, they were very close. Now I think there’s another generation of artists, they looked up to Toby. And we’re going to miss out on having Toby be there for us.”

Twenty-three number one hits but an attitude that spoke to country music fans, especially those here in Bakersfield. That was Toby Keith.

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