Toby Keith has died. This was the country legend’s last Florida performance

It's fitting that the last time country music icon Toby Keith performed in Florida was to honor veterans.

Keith, 62, who died Monday, headlined the Heroes Honor Fest with Craig Morgan and Justin Moore in Daytona Beach in May 2022.

The event at the Daytona International Speedway, created by U.S. Army veteran Ben Peterson for Vietnam vets, also featured actress Ann-Margret, Lt. Col. Oliver North, Gov. Ron DeSantis and others along with a military flyover, a patriot parachute team, a veterans resource expo, a vigil for those killed in action and more.

"Love Toby Keith because of how he feels about the American people, the American soldier," said a Vietnam vet in a video Keith posted to his Facebook page last year. "It all shows in your music."

The next month, the "Beer For My Horses" singer-songwriter told his fans he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer.

"So far, so good," he posted on Instagram. "I need time to breathe, recover and relax. I am looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can't wait."

After that, he performed over a dozen more shows around the country, according to concertarchives.org, including what he called his Las Vegas "rehab" shows at Dolby Live in Las Vegas in December that became his final concerts.

Who was Toby Keith?

Keith, born Toby Keith Covel, was unapologetically pro-America and frequently got into controversies and feuds over his political beliefs which just further endeared him to his fans. After his breakthrough single "How Do You Like Me Now" in 1999 Keith had 20 No. 1 hits on the Billboard's Hot Country chart and 22 more top 10 hits, including the 2003 "Beer For My Horses" duet with Willie Nelson and "As Good As I Once Was" in 2005.

What happened to Toby Keith?

Keith died Monday, surrounded by his family, after a years-long battle with stomach cancer he fought with "grace and courage," according to an X post on his account Tuesday morning.

Remembering Toby Keith: Our 2012 interview with the country music star before West Palm concert

Did Toby Keith ever perform at the Daytona 500?

No, but he did hit the stage at the Speedway for the Country Music 500 in 2018, part of a massive lineup that also featured Chris Stapleton and Dierks Bentley.

But that isn't to say Keith wasn't involved with racing. He collected cars (and horses) himself and was the Grand Marshal for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2023.

"Time to get in and sit down, shut up and hold on" he yelled, holding a red solo cup high. "Drivers, start yer engines!"

Last September, Team Penske honored Keith with his name and a cancer ribbon over the drivers' doors at at 2023 Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. "We're honored to have Toby Keith riding along with us at @kansasspeedway this weekend," the team posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Keith's horses: Remembering that time in 2013 when Toby Keith was in Ocala for a horse sale

Did Toby Keith write a NASCAR parody song?

No. But he appeared in one.

"I Love NASCAR" by Cledus T. Judd (Barry Poole), the "Weird Al of Country Music," was a parody of Keith's 2003 hit "I Love This Bar." With gentle pokes at Tony Stewart, Kyle Petty, "Swervin' Marlin," Jeff Gordon and more, it's a riotous tribute to the world of racing with Keith himself jumping in on the chorus.

"I love NASCAR, it's my kind of race, just to see Big E back on the track," Keith sang. "Would put a smile on every face. No one drove a car quite like Earnhardt."

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Toby Keith, dead at 62, honored veterans with his final Florida show