Keith, who had been battling stomach cancer, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.

"He fought his fight with grace and courage," read a statement on his Facebook page. "Please respect the privacy of his family at this time."

Keith and his wife Tricia, [have] three children and a number of grandchildren.

"Too many rides in my old man's car listening to Toby Keith," said Country music artist Zach Bryan. "Really hard thing to hear. Rest in peace, friend. We love you."

In an interview with InspireMore, Keith credited his faith in God with helping him endure the cancer.

"You have to have your faith," he said. "Thank God that I got it, too. You take it for granted on days that are good, and you lean on it when days are bad. It's taught me to lean on it a little more every day."

Keith said he had "experienced a peace that surpasses all understanding," and he had come to terms with the possibility that he may not win his war with cancer.

"I finally got to a point in the spring ... where I was comfortable with whatever happened," he continued. "I got my brain wrapped around it. And I was in a good spot, either way. People without faith don't have that."

He released his debut album in 1993 and is known for hits including "Red Solo Cup" and "I Wanna Talk About Me." Keith's 2002 song "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)," released in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, made him a household name.

"Should've Been a Cowboy," his breakout hit, was played 3 million times on radio stations, making it the most played country song of the 1990s.

He was also a fierce supporter of the US military. During his career he performed on 11 USO tours across the globe. He also helped to raised millions for charity over his career, including building a home in Oklahoma City for kids and their families who are battling cancer.

Keith's hit song, "American Ride," has been the theme song of the Todd Starnes Radio Show since its inception.

"Those lyrics really captured the heart of what my show is about," said Starnes. "Toby Keith was an incredible musician and entertainer. But he also had his finger on the pulse of the American spirit. He was truly a country music legend and a great American patriot."

Keith worked as a roughneck in the oil fields of Oklahoma as a young man, then played semi-pro football before launching his career as a singer.

"I write about life, and I sing about life, and I don't overanalyze things," Keith told The Associated Press in 2001, following the success of his song "I'm Just Talking About Tonight." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

President Trump Shares Letter on Palm Sunday, from Franklin Graham Discussing Salvation

HSLDA Lawyer Warns This Bill Would Create a 'Surveillance State' for Homeschooling Families

Major Airports Return to Normal as TSA Workers Get Paid

GROTESQUE: Barack Obama's Orwellian Push for Virginia Redistricting Is Something to Behold

Not 'Leaderless': the 'No Kings' Protests Are Well-Funded by These Notorious Billionaires

Ilhan Omar's Connection to Genocide in Somaliland, and Fraud in the US; Will She Be Deported?

Prayer Alert: Nigerian Christians Massacred on Palm Sunday

Iran's Exiled Crown Prince Receives Standing Ovation at CPAC from Huge Iranian-American Audience [Watch Full Speech]

Campus Awakening Continues: Baptisms in Pickup Trucks, Physical Healings Reported in UniteUS College Revival at Pitt

Explosive Intel Report: Ukraine War Aid May Have Been Funneled to Biden Campaign, DNC

Indicted Democrat Rep. Found Guilty of More Than 2 Dozen Ethics Violations; Faces Possible Expulsion from Congress

Congress Requests Documents after Reports on California Hospice Fraud

Whistleblower Exposes Massive Election Fraud Ring in California; Claims Even Gangs Are Involved to Rig Petitions with Paid Homeless Signers [Video]

Ohio House Passes Indecent Exposure Modernization Act to Protect Children and Preserve Privacy, Despite Dem Opposition

WATCH Rubio Mic Drop: Epic Fury Is a Favor for the World. 'Step Up and Deal With It'

BEST OF THE BEST: ICE Officer Saves One-Year-Old Child's Life at JFK Airport

Senate Funds DHS without ICE or Border Patrol; Bill Now Heads to the House

'We Must Prepare for the Battle Ahead': Canada's House of Commons Passes Bill that Would Criminalize Quoting the Bible

Appeals Court Hands Trump Big Win on Detaining Illegal Immigrants

Transgender Illegal Alien Child-Rapist Gets 'Time Served' Sentence in Sanctuary NYC