The music industry is mourning the loss of legendary country star Toby Keith, who has passed away at the age of 62.
Kid Rock, another industry powerhouse, reflected on the life and career of his close friend.
“He had so many wonderful memories, so much talent. We're going to miss him,” Kid Rock said in a phone interview with “Fox & Friends” on Tuesday.
“He was incredibly talented and loved his family like he loved his country. And we shouldn't forget how much fun he was either.”
TRIBUTE TO TOBY KEITH, LEGENDARY SINGER 'COURTESY OF THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE' DEAD AT AGE 62
Kid Rock pays tribute to the late country music icon Toby Keith, who died at age 62 after battling stomach cancer. (Getty Images/Fox News)
Keith died Monday at the age of 62, his family wrote in a statement posted on his website and social media accounts Tuesday morning.
“Toby Keith passed away peacefully last night, February 5, surrounded by his family,” the statement read.
“She fought her fight with grace and courage,” he continued. “Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”
Keith revealed in June 2022 that he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer.
The country icon is survived by his wife, Tricia, three children and four grandchildren.
Dolly Parton and Toby Keith together on the red carpet during the 2003 BMI Country Music Awards in Nashville. (R. Diamond/Wire Image)
“My heart goes out to his family, all his friends here in Nashville, all over the country, all over the world. But I'm especially thinking about his wife and his kids right now,” Kid Rock said.
The Oklahoma-based country music star had a storied career and was best known for his 1993 hit, “Should've Been a Cowboy.” His smash hit was played 3 million times on radio stations and became the most played country song of the 1990s.
“He was incredibly talented and loved his family like he loved his country. And we shouldn't forget how much fun he was either.” – Rock Boy
Among her 20 Billboard number one hits were “How Do You Like Me Now?!”, “As Good As I Once Was,” “My List” and “Beer for My Horses,” a duet with Willie Nelson.
His 2002 song, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American),” showed his patriotism in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Keith, however, didn't just use the idea of American patriotism in his songs. He gave his support to the US military and went on 11 USO tours to visit and perform for troops serving overseas. He would write about his support of the men and women of the U.S. military with his 2003 hit, “American Soldier.”
“We used to joke about who went there more because he and I have definitely, you know, been there dozens, if not 20 times, you know, spending Christmas, Thanksgiving, you know, whenever they called us, we went to do it. Sometimes we called them and we went to do it. And we had a lot of conversations about it, about how it was the most rewarding thing we've ever done in our careers, but it was also the most work,” Kid Rock said.
“What a great patriot to do that.”
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Fox News' Stephen Sorace and Landon Mion contributed to this report.
