Blake Shelton Honors Toby Keith After His Peaceful Passing at 62

Country superstar Blake Shelton paid a heartfelt tribute to his dear friend and fellow Oklahoma native, Toby Keith, following the singer’s peaceful passing at age 62 on Monday night.

In an emotional post on X (formerly Twitter), Shelton, 47, wrote, “Even though I knew about your battle these last few months, I never imagined this day would come. Anyone who ever met you understands what I mean. You were the toughest man I ever met.”

He continued, “Thank you, brother, for being a friend, a hero, and an inspiration. There will never be another Toby Keith.”

Toby Keith and Blake Shelton perform together in Las Vegas, April 2018.
Photo by Jason Kempin/ACMA2018/Getty

A Moment of Recognition

Last September, at the 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards, Shelton had the honor of presenting Keith with the Country Music Icon Award. At the time, Keith reflected on their long friendship, telling PEOPLE, “I’ve known Blake forever. He was on my first big headlining tour back when I earned that status, and I took him under my wing.”

“We’re both from Oklahoma—kindred spirits,” Keith smiled. “We’ve always had fun together.”

The Country Music Community Mourns

Following Keith’s passing, a wave of tributes poured in from across the country music world. Stars including Carrie Underwood, Dolly Parton, Jason Aldean, Old Dominion, Luke Bryan, Jelly Roll, Zach Bryan, Dan + Shay, Luke Combs, Reba McEntire, and Chuck Wicks all expressed their sorrow.

Reba McEntire shared with PEOPLE, “We’ll miss him more than words can say—not just as a colleague, but as a true friend and an incredible person in our industry.” She added, “At least he’s free from pain now. I hope one day I’ll see him again in Heaven. Thank goodness for his music, which will keep his spirit alive on Earth.”

Chuck Wicks, 44, also told PEOPLE, “I’m like any other fan—I grew up with Toby Keith’s music. He was larger than life, and that’s exactly what people loved about him: that big presence, delivering hit after hit.”