Toby Keith’s Daughter Accepts His Honorary Degree 3 Months After His Death
By Movieguide® Contributor
The University of Oklahoma bestowed an honorary degree to country singer Toby Keith, which his daughter accepted three months after he died from stomach cancer.
Movieguide® reported on Keith’s death:
“Toby Keith passed peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family. He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time,” a statement on his website reads. Keith first announced his cancer diagnosis in 2022.
Throughout his cancer battle, the “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” singer-songwriter relied on God.
“I lean on my faith and I just pray and lean into it,” he stated. “You gotta’ do what you gotta’ do, and I don’t know how people do it without faith…that’s what I did, it was my rock.”
“Thank God that I got it [faith] too,” he said in a recent interview. “You take it for granted on days that things are good and you lean on it when days are bad. It’s taught me to lean on it a little more every day.”
“Toby learned he would be receiving an honorary degree from @uofoklahoma last fall, and yesterday, @krystalkeith accepted it on his behalf at the commencement ceremony,” a post from his Instagram account read. “Congratulations to all of the OU graduates!”
OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. wrote, “So incredibly grateful to Tricia and Krystal Keith for joining us Saturday to celebrate the impact and legacy of @tobykeith with an honorary degree from @UofOklahoma. Miss you and each and every day, TK.”
So incredibly grateful to Tricia and Krystal Keith for joining us Saturday to celebrate the impact and legacy of @tobykeith with an honorary degree from @UofOklahoma.
Miss you and each and every day, TK. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/QthmspGrN9
— Joseph Harroz, Jr. (@OU_President) May 12, 2024
PEOPLE reported, “Toby was a big fan of the Oklahoma Sooners football team, and his daughters Krystal, and Shelley, 44, and son Stelen Covel, 27, are all OU alumni.”
Following her dad’s death, Krystal took to Instagram to reflect on his life, career and faith.
“I am shattered. As great as he was in his career, he was so much greater as a dad and a husband and a Pop Pop. He was my hero,” Krystal began. “I am so lucky to have had him and so grateful he got to walk me down the aisle and meet my babies. That I have years of memories traveling the world as a family. I am blessed that I got to spend years traveling on the road and singing on stage with him. That I have mountains of video footage and endless tracks of music to watch him on and hear his voice with. I’m lucky I got to say goodbye and tell him what he meant to me.”
“I will forever honor him,” she continued. “The pain is so unbelievably deep and it feels like I have a literal broken heart but I know that it wouldn’t hurt so bad if we didn’t love him and get to be loved so deeply by him. He never made me wonder if he would be there for me.”
“He made sure to live with Jesus so he could go with Jesus,” the post concluded. “Jesus taking him home is the cherry on top of the life we got to live with him.”
Harroz Jr. also remembered the legendary country singer.
“Throughout his illustrious career, he remained rooted in his Oklahoma upbringing, choosing to live in the state that shaped him and giving back generously to his fellow Oklahomans,” Harroz Jr. wrote. “His philanthropic efforts, from raising millions for children battling cancer to supporting tornado victims, exemplified his unwavering commitment to his roots and his compassion for others. As a lifelong Sooner, Toby’s passion for the crimson and cream made him a cherished figure within Sooner Nation, where he proudly shared his love for the university and its community.”
“His absence leaves a void not only in the country music landscape but also in the hearts of all who were touched by his music and his kindness,” he continued to write. “Personally, I will miss Toby’s laughter, warmth, and everlasting love for the University of Oklahoma.”
