Carrie Underwood Pays Sweet Tribute to Toby Keith Following His Death

Toby Keith, a hit country music star who rose to fame in the 1990s, died yesterday at the age of 62. He had been battling stomach cancer since the fall of 2021.

Since the announcement of his death on Feb. 5, fans, friends and fellow celebrities have been offering up tributes to the highly-respected musician. The “How Do You Like Me Now?!” singer had a long and successful career in the industry, and the many tributes reflect that.

Among those who offered a public statement in the aftermath of his death was fellow country music singer Carrie Underwood. The 40-year-old took to Instagram on the morning of Feb. 6 to share her heartfelt reflections on Keith.

“Saddle up the horses, Jesus, ’cause a true blue COWBOY just made his ride up to heaven!!!” Underwood wrote of her friend. “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.”

Alongside the message, the Oklahoma native shared three photos of the pair posing together over the years. The first two featured a moment they shared at the 2022 BMI Country Awards in Nashville, which took place just a few months after Keith announced the cancer diagnosis. The third was a throwback photo from several years ago, featuring the pair smiling side-by-side.

Underwood’s sweet declaration was a major testament to the impact that Keith left on the country music industry.