Toby Keith Confirms Stomach Cancer Diagnosis; Cancels Concert At Ohio State Fair

Country music superstar Toby Keith has announced he is diagnosed with stomach cancer and has been receiving treatment since last fall.

The "Red Solo Cup" singer revealed his condition through his social media accounts Sunday.

"I've spent the last six months receiving chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover and relax. I am looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can't wait," the 60-year-old singer tweeted.

Following Keith's announcement, the Ohio State Fair confirmed that the country singer's scheduled performance on July 28 was canceled and tickets will be refunded to patrons.

"Our hearts go out to Toby Keith as he courageously battles cancer. Tickets purchased from Ticketmaster for his #ohiostatefair show on July 28, which has been canceled, will be automatically refunded. Any information about an alternate concert on July 28 is forthcoming," it wrote.

Prior to the July 28 performance, Keith was supposed to perform at the Ribfest in Illinois on June 17 and at the Annual B-93 Birthday Bash in Michigan on June 18, according to his official website.

The singer's health woes began nearly a decade ago when he underwent gallbladder surgery, which led him to cancel several musical performances. Keith went under the knife in 2012 after complaining of severe pain for an unknown amount of time.

Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is an "abnormal growth of cells in the stomach," according to Mayo Clinic. Its symptoms include vomiting, unintentional weight loss, difficulty in swallowing, feeling bloated after eating, feeling full after eating small amounts of food and indigestion among others.

Keith released his latest album, "Peso in my Pocket," last year after a break due to COVID-19. The singer shares three children and four grandchildren with wife Tricia Lucus.

Last year, former President Donald Trump awarded Keith the National Medal of Arts for his contributions to music and for his humanitarian work. The National Endowment for the Arts describes the medal as "the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government."