Toby Keith is back! Just two weeks after making a return to the stage, Keith took to Instagram to share a video of him performing yet again – though this performance was a bit more unique as he showed off his karaoke skills in the back of an Uber. Don’t worry, he sang one of his biggest hits and did the song justice.
Not only did his Uber driver get paid to drive, but he got a free concert out of it, as well. “This is what happens when my Uber has a karaoke machine,” Keith wrote in the caption – the post received nearly 70,000 likes on Instagram, but went even more viral on TikTok with four million views and 575,000+ likes.
He sang his hit song, ‘Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American), which was released in 2002 as part of his Unleashed album. The song was inspired by the death of his father and 9/11 – it only took him about 20 minutes to write the lyrics and he wrote it on the back of a Fantasy Football sheet.
Toby Keith was given quite the ovation (seated, of course) by his audience – which included his Uber driver and the few others accompanying him in the vehicle. Considering what the country music singer has gone through in the past two years, it’s good to see him smiling, singing, and entertaining again.
It was just 12 months ago that Toby Keith revealed he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer in the fall of 2021. He kept the diagnosis a secret for as long as possible while he underwent chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, but eventually filled his fans and followers in with a health update in June 2022.
Over the past six months, Toby has hinted at a return to the stage now that his blood tests are improving and his tumor had shrunk by roughly 33% – he credits the chemotherapy, immunotherapy treatment, and his nutritionist for helping him mount a comeback to music. He most recently gave an update last month.
“Basically, everything is in a real positive trend. You never know with cancer, so you have to prepare,” he said in an interview with The Oklahoman in June. “I’ve got more wind. And I’m thinking about bringing the band in and setting up, playing two or three days somewhere just to see if I can get through two hours.”
Toby Keith Stayed True to His Word
On June 30, Toby Keith was preparing for a rehearsal to get a feel for his ability to perform in front of a crowd – he hadn’t performed in over a year, but was looking to make a return soon. In typical Toby Keith fashion, that rehearsal ended up turning into a full-blown concert as he refused to leave the stage.
He was so happy that he decided to run it back the following day. On July 1, he took the stage for the second night in a row and, again, performed for nearly 2.5 hours. Both performances took place at Hollywood Corners – a family restaurant and bar owned by Toby Keith and located in Norman, Oklahoma.
One week later, Toby Keith celebrated his 61st birthday (on July 8) – just four days after celebrating the 4th of July. It has been a long and challenging road for Toby Keith, but he’s happy to be back and looks forward to entertaining fans again – whether it be in the back of an Uber or in front of a screaming crowd.
