The music world was left in shock this week when it was revealed country music star Toby Keith had died on Monday following a battle with stomach cancer.
And now his friend, former NFL star Brett Favre, has spoken out and revealed Keith’s words to him just days before his death.
Favre told TMZ Sports: “He did say that to me when we had our conversation… He said, ‘Brett, whatever happens, I’m OK with it.'”
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He added that Keith was “tired” before his battle with the disease came to an end.
“He handled it with grace and faith and family… and stood up to the cancer about as good as you can.”
Keith died Monday at the age of 62, after an 18-month battle with stomach cancer.
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“Toby Keith passed peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family,” a statement posted to Keith’s website and social media said.
“He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”
Keith was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2022.
Keith performed at the 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards in September and received the Country Icon Award.
He also performed his hit Don’t Let The Old Man In on stage in Las Vegas in December, in one of his final public appearances.
Dolly Parton and Carrie Underwood led the tributes to Keith this week, following his death.
The music icon shared a statement to Instagram on Tuesday (Wednesday in Australia), shortly after news broke.
“It’s always hard when we lose our brothers and sisters in country music,” Parton’s post read.
“Toby Keith was one of the greats in every way. He will be missed but his music and legacy will live on. Love Dolly.”
Country star Carrie Underwood, 40, also shared a post to her more than 13 million followers on Instagram, calling him a “a true blue COWBOY”.
“Saddle up the horses, Jesus, ’cause a true blue COWBOY just made his ride up to heaven!!!” she wrote.
“Introduce him to all the Okies and sign that boy up for the choir!
“We’re gonna miss you, Toby, but my heart has no doubt that you are standing in the presence of our King right now!!! See you again someday, friend.”
He released his debut album in 1993 and is known for hits including Red Solo Cup and I Wanna Talk About Me.
Keith’s 2002 song Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American), released in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, made him a household name.
Sometimes a polarising figure in country music, the 6-foot-4 singer broke out in the country boom years of the 1990s, crafting an identity around his macho, pro-American swagger and writing songs that fans loved to hear.
Over his career he publicly clashed with other celebrities and journalists and often pushed back against record executives who wanted to smooth his rough edges.
He was honored by the performance rights organisation BMI in November 2022 with the BMI Icon award, a few months after announcing his stomach cancer diagnosis.
“I always felt like that the songwriting was the most important part of this whole industry,” Keith told the crowd of fellow singers and writers.
– Reported with CNN and Associated Press.