We’re heartbroken to confirm the tragic news about Toby Keith, just months after his last performance.Country singer Toby Keith passed away Monday at the age of 62 following a battle with cancer, his family announced on Tuesday, February 6.“Toby Keith passed away peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family,” the statement issued by his family read.“He fought his fight with grace and courage,” it continued. “Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”The Should’ve Been a Cowboy singer was disclosed the news of having cancer in June 2022. Back then, he posted on his social media and left his fans devastated and praying for his well-being.“Last fall I was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I’ve spent the last 6 months receiving chemo, radiation and surgery,” he said in a June 2022 post on X (formerly Twitter). 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. -T.”
Keith was probably one of the most famous names in country music.Along with establishing a very successful career, he could also brag with an impressive family life.
Throughout his life, and especially throughout his battle with cancer, his wife of forty years, Tricia Lucus, was by his side.
The two met at a bar while he and his band were performing and they spent the night dancing together. At the time, Lucus was a 19 years old working as an oil company secretary and had a child she was raising on her own.
Speaking of Keith, she said that what attracted her to him was that “he was one of those larger-than-life guys, full of confidence.”
The couple tied the knot on March 24, 1984, after three years of dating. Keith adopted Lucus’ daughter and the two had children on their own.
Even before his diagnosis, Keith was an advocate about cancer research and in 2016 he established the Toby Keith Foundation to help provide children with cancer with housing for free.
At the People’s Choice Country Awards last September, where he received the Country Icon Award, the country singer icon shared insights into his treatment journey, describing it as a “roller coaster” experience.
His loss is immense. The world of music lost a legend, but his legacy would continue to live on. His resilient spirit would continue to inspire many more generations. May he rest in peace.
My Ex Left Me with His Son from a Previous Marriage 10 Years Ago — Yesterday, He Showed Up in My Yard with a Lawyer
Ten years after vanishing, Sara’s ex-fiancé, Daniel, reappears on her doorstep with a lawyer, demanding custody of the son he’d abandoned. Secrets unravel as Sara fights to protect the life she built with Adam, and the true reason behind Daniel’s sudden return threatens everything.
Yesterday, while Adam got ready for school upstairs, I savored my last sip of coffee when the doorbell rang. I assumed it was a neighbor or the mailman.
But when I opened the door, my heart lurched.
Daniel.
I hadn’t thought about him in years, except in fleeting moments when Adam asked about his father. But this was not how I imagined seeing him again.
He stood there, ten years older but unchanged. Next to him was a man in an expensive suit, clutching a folder.
“Why are you here?” I croaked.
Daniel cut to the chase. “I’m here to take back my son.”
My heart stopped. After a decade of silence, he thought he could waltz back and take Adam away?
“You’re not taking him,” I whispered. “You have no right.”
Daniel’s lawyer stepped forward, handing me the folder. “Ma’am, you’ve been served.”
My hands shook as I read the legal jargon: custody, contest, court. My life with Adam, built over ten years, was about to unravel.
Ten years ago
Daniel had swept into my life, bringing his three-year-old son, Adam, from his previous marriage. He was charming but broken, and I thought I could fix him. Adam was the best part, and I became his stepmom, feeling like I belonged.
Then one morning, I woke up to an empty bed. I thought he might’ve gone for a run, but hours passed with no sign of him. Panic set in when I found the note: “I’m sorry, but I have to go.”
I was left to explain to Adam that his daddy was gone. He didn’t cry but said, “Daddy said he’d come back one day.” Weeks turned into months, and Adam stopped asking.
After Daniel left, I faced a nightmare. Child Protective Services got involved, and as a stepmom, I had no legal rights. They didn’t care that I was the only mother Adam knew. I fought tirelessly, enduring sleepless nights and endless court dates, and in the end, I won. I adopted Adam legally and vowed no one would take him from me again.
The present day
Staring at the legal papers, rage and fear washed over me.
“Mom?” Adam’s hesitant voice broke through my thoughts. I realized he had overheard everything.
“It’s nothing,” I lied, forcing a smile. But it wasn’t fine.
I hired a lawyer, determined to protect Adam. As the case unfolded, we discovered Daniel’s true motive: Adam’s grandfather had recently passed down a large inheritance, and Daniel wanted custody to get his hands on Adam’s money.
The court hearing came quickly. My lawyer, Judith, prepped me for the questions, but nothing prepared me for seeing Daniel again. His lawyer argued that Daniel, as Adam’s biological father, had the right to custody, painting him as a man ready to step up.
But Judith laid out the truth: Daniel hadn’t been a part of Adam’s life for ten years. Then she revealed the inheritance, stating Daniel was motivated by greed, not love.
The judge turned to Adam. “You’re thirteen now; I want to hear from you.”
Adam stood, surprising everyone. “Sara has been my mom for ten years. I don’t know the man sitting there. I want to stay with the only person who has ever cared for me.”
The courtroom fell silent.
The judge nodded, her expression softening. “Your decision is clear.” With that, the gavel came down. Adam would stay with me.
Daniel left the courtroom, a defeated shadow of the man I once loved.
Outside, Adam turned to me, smiling. “I’m glad it’s over, Mom.”
“Me too,” I whispered, pulling him into a tight embrace.
As we walked down the courthouse steps, Adam asked, “What do we do with the inheritance now?”
I smiled softly. “That money is yours, Adam. I’ll never take a cent of it. It’s for your future.”
He looked up, his eyes full of warmth. “My future is with you, Mom.”
This work is inspired by real events but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or events is purely coincidental. The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or character portrayals and are not liable for any misinterpretation.
Leave a Reply