Clint Eastwood is one of the many fans, friends and colleagues who turned to social media to remember Toby Keith after the news of his death broke on Tuesday (Feb. 6).
The 93-year-old actor writes that he’s “extremely saddened” by Keith’s death at the age of 62.
Keith died on Monday (Feb. 5) after a two-year battle with stomach cancer. His family broke the news in a post to social media on Tuesday morning, writing, “Toby Keith passed away peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family. He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”
Eastwood and Keith were longtime friends, and the actor shared his own thoughts on Keith’s death, writing, “Extremely Saddened by the passing of Toby Keith, Rest in peace my friend… “
Eastwood helped inspire a song that would stand as one of Keith’s final career triumphs. Keith wrote “Don’t Let the Old Man In” after a conversation with Eastwood, after Keith asked the filmmaker how he kept his work and personal lives so active at his age.
“I don’t let the old man in,” Eastwood replied.
RELATED: Toby Keith’s Top 20 Songs Prove He’s a Country Icon
“Don’t Let the Old Man In” appeared in Eastwood’s 2018 film The Mule, but it was never a radio single. In November of 2023, Keith returned to the stage for what turned out to be the final television performance of his life, delivering a powerful, emotional version of “Don’t Let the Old Man In” at the 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards that had the audience in tears.
The overwhelming reaction convinced Keith to release the song as a single. It went on to top the iTunes charts, and Keith subsequently announced a string of three shows in Las Vegas, which turned out to be the final live shows of his life.
Toby Keith’s Sweetest Photos With His Wife, Tricia Lucus
In 1984, Toby Keith married his love Tricia Lucus after three years of dating, and the couple remained together for the rest of his life. Over the years, they raised three children together. Keith adopted Tricia’s daughter Shelley, who was born from a previous relationship, and they welcomed a daughter named Krystal and a son named Stelen. Take a look back at the couple’s sweetest moments together through the years.
Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak
See Photos From Toby Keith’s Final Shows in Las Vegas
Toby Keith played three shows to a sold-out crowd at Las Vegas’ Dolby Park on Dec. 10, Dec. 11 and Dec. 14, 2024. These shows would turn out to be his last. Amid his ongoing stomach cancer battle, the country legend died on Feb. 6 at the age of 62.
Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak
Toby Keith Dies: Jason Aldean, Luke Combs + More Stars React
Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak
Toby Keith’s 20 Best Songs Prove He’s a Country Icon
Here are his greatest hits — the top songs from 19 studio albums and beyond.
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
22 Photos of Toby Keith Young
Toby Keith was one of the most influential artists in country music history, with a career spanning from the mid 1990s all the way until his death in 2024. Let’s take a walk back in time and see pictures of Toby Keith young.
Gallery Credit: Evan Paul