Toby Keith was voted into the Nation Music Corridor of Fame in the future after the singer died after a battle with abdomen most cancers. He was 62.
Sarah Trahern, the CEO of the Nation Music Affiliation, made the revelation Monday after asserting that singer John Anderson, 69, and James Burton, 84, could be becoming a member of Keith within the prestigious honor.
“Every of those inductees have made an indelible influence on nation music,” Trahern mentioned, per Billboard.
In her speech about every of the inductees, Trahern mentioned that the election guidelines prohibit somebody from being elected into the Nation Music Corridor of Fame within the 12 months during which they cross away. Nonetheless, that didn’t apply to the late singer as he had been elected previous to his demise in February.
“Nominations have been made within the fall of 2023 with the primary poll despatched to voters earlier than the vacations, with the ultimate poll closing on Friday, Feb. 2,” Trahern defined. “Our skilled providers companions at Deloitte launched the outcomes to us just some days later.”
“This 12 months, we anticipated receiving the names of our remaining inductees on Tuesday, Feb. 6. As we all know now, we awakened that morning to the heartbreaking information that our pal Toby Keith had misplaced his lengthy battle with abdomen most cancers,” she added, noting that they acquired the ultimate votes from Deloitte mere hours after the information broke.
“Really one of many best honors of my job is getting to tell these inductees that they’re the most recent members of the hallowed class,” Trahern mentioned. “My coronary heart sank that Tuesday afternoon, realizing that we had missed the prospect to tell Toby whereas he was nonetheless with us.”
“However I’ve little question that he’s smiling down on us, realizing that he’ll at all times be ‘nearly as good as he as soon as was,’” she concluded, referring to Keith’s 2005 single “As Good As I As soon as Was.”
A rep for the late singer advised The Put up that Keith’s household was grateful that he was voted in.
“Toby’s passing left our hearts damaged,” the rep mentioned. “We miss him a lot.”
“However we take consolation that his music and legacy will dwell ceaselessly,” the assertion continued. “Thanks Nation Music Corridor Of Fame for serving to maintain it alive.”
Keith’s household introduced the nation crooner’s passing on Feb. 6.
“Toby Keith handed peacefully final evening on February fifth, surrounded by his household,” the publish on X (formerly Twitter) learn. “He fought his struggle with grace and braveness. Please respect the privateness of his household presently.”
Two weeks previous to his demise, the “Ought to’ve Been A Cowboy” singer opened up about his ongoing battle. He was recognized with most cancers in 2022.
“I used to be going by means of all of the chemo, radiation, surgical procedure, and I bought to the purpose the place I used to be snug with no matter occurred. I had my mind wrapped round it, and I used to be in a great place both approach,” the Nation Music Award winner advised Oklahoma’s Information 9.
In the identical interview, Keith praised his spouse of 39 years, Tricia Lucus, for being “the perfect nurse.”
“Oh, she’s been a trooper,” he mentioned. “The primary time we went to Houston, to the hospital, she stepped proper in and she or he simply took management and mentioned, ‘We bought this. Let’s go.’ So she’s like, ‘We’re going to get this and don’t fear about it.’”
The formal induction of the Class of 2024 is slated to happen on the Nation Music Corridor of Fame and Museum in Nashville, TN, in October.