Amid a cancer diagnosis in 2021, country music legend Toby Keith is speaking out on the rollercoaster ride he has been on with his health, but that he remains in good spirits.
The 62-year-old country star recently sat down in his home state with News 9 in Oklahoma to shed light on his contunous battle with stomach cancer. The news outlet reported that while Keith looked “noticeably thinner,” he is doing ok.
“I’m not going to let this define what my future is,” he told News 9.
He willingly shared his journey, citing his experience with surgery, chemo and radiation. The one thing keeping him powering through it — faith.
“You take it for granted on the days that things are good, and you lean on it when days are bad,” he said. “It has taught me to lean on it a little more every day.”
He then candidly shared that he was comfortable with whatever outcome the cancer leads him to — including potential death.
Despite the outcome, Keith said he got to a point where he’d be fine with whatever happens to him.
“I was in a good spot either way. People without faith don’t have that,” he said.
Despite “the storm” he’s facing, he was met with “unexpected blessings” like appreciating his wife Trisha of almost 40 years, their children and grandchildren, among others.
The News 9 reporter who sat down with Keith — Robin Marsh — then relayed how “real” and “vulnerable” the country icon was.
“Some of the takeaways are you’re not defined by your circumstance,” she said.
You can watch the full interview with Keith here.