The “As Good as I Once Was” singer, 60, posted on Twitter that he had cancer and has spent the last six months receiving chemotherapy, WKRN-TV reported.
“Last fall I was diagnosed with stomach cancer,” Keith wrote, “I’ve spent the last six months receiving chemo, radiation, and surgery. 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.”
Keith has been a force on the Billboard country music charts, scoring 20 No. 1 hits. He has an additional 21 songs that have reached Billboard’s top-10 and has charted 61 country singles overall.
His 2003 duet with Willie Nelson, “Beer for My Horses,” stayed at No. 1 for six weeks. “As Good as I Once Was,” released in 2005, also topped the charts for six weeks.
Other No. 1 hits for Keith include his breakthrough 1993 hit, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” according to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Keith, who was inducted into the Hall in 2015, also scored No. 1 hits with “I Love This Bar,” “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “Who’s Your Daddy?,” “American Soldier” and “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American).”
“Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” was Keith’s response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and was a crossover hit in 2002, reaching No. 25 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.
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Toby Keith through the years Toby Keith, left, and Willie Nelson perform at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) (Mark Humphrey/AP)
Toby Keith through the years Country singer Toby Keith, right, chats with brothers Christian Collins and Calen Collins, with Caddy for a Cure, as Keith waits to tee off in the celebrity group on the ninth hole during the pro-am of the Honda Classic golf tournament, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014 in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) (Wilfredo Lee/AP)
Toby Keith through the years Singer Toby Keith performs during rehearsals for the Academy of Country Music Awards, Friday, April 3, 2009, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
(Mark J. Terrill/AP)
Toby Keith through the years Toby Keith presents the award for male video of the year at the CMT Music Awards on Wednesday, June 5, 2019, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) (Mark Humphrey/AP)
Toby Keith through the years Toby Keith performs at the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) (Julie Jacobson/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Toby Keith through the years Honoree Toby Keith gives remarks at the 46th Annual Songwriters Hall Of Fame Induction and Awards Gala at the Marriott Marquis on Thursday, June 18, 2015, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) (Evan Agostini/Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Toby Keith through the years Toby Keith, left, and Blake Shelton perform "Should've Been a Cowboy" at the 53rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, April 15, 2018, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Invision)
Toby Keith through the years FILE - In this Oct. 30, 2012, file photo Toby Keith performs at the 60th Annual BMI Country Awards on in Nashville, Tenn. Keith, whose hometown of Moore, Okla., was hit by a massive tornado in May, announced Thursday, June 13, 2013, that his Oklahoma Twister Relief Concert will be held July 6 at the University of Oklahoma's Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. Joining Keith is fellow Oklahoman Garth Brooks and his wife, Trisha Yearwood. Other performers include Willie Nelson and Ronnie Dunn. (Photo by Wade Payne/Invision/AP, File) (Wade Payne/Wade Payne/Invision/AP)
Toby Keith through the years Toby Keith performs at Naperville's Ribfest at Knoch Park on Friday, June 30, 2017, in Naperville, IL. (Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP) (Rob Grabowski/Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP)
Toby Keith through the years Country music recording artist Toby Keith holds a red Solo cup as he performs on NBC's Today show at Rockefeller Plaza on Friday, July 5, 2019, in New York. (Photo by Greg Allen/Invision/AP) (Greg Allen/Greg Allen/Invision/AP)
Toby Keith through the years FILE - In this Dec. 11, 2009 file photo, country singer Toby Keith speaks during a news conference in Oslo, Norway ahead of the annual Nobel Peace Prize concert. The Boston Pops announced Wednesday, June 9, 2010, that Keith will perform with the Pops during the annual July 4 concert. (AP Photo/John McConnico, File) (John McConnico/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Toby Keith through the years Toby Keith performs during the American Country Countdown Awards at the Forum on Sunday, May 1, 2016 in Inglewood, Calif. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Invision/AP) (Vince Bucci/Vince Bucci/Invision/AP)
Toby Keith through the years Country singer Toby Keith leans on Ford F-150 at the North American International Auto Show Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Gary Malerba) (Gary Malerba/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Toby Keith through the years Toby Keith performs at the Oklahoma Twister Relief Concert at the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday, July 6, 2013 in Norman, Okla. (Photo by Alonzo Adams/Invision/AP) (Alonzo Adams, Wendi Hammock/Alonzo Adams, Wendi Hammock/Invision/AP)
Toby Keith through the years FILE - In this April 7, 2014, file photo shows Toby Keith performs at ACM Presents an All-Star Salute to the Troops in Las Vegas. Singer and songwriter Keith will perform a tribute to the late legend Merle Haggard during the American Country Countdown Awards on May 1, 2016. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Toby Keith through the years Toby Keith, right, meets with fellow country singer Larry Gatlin after Keith taped his performance on the "Fox & friends" television program's All American Concert Series in New York Thursday, June 17, 2010. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) (Richard Drew/AP)
Toby Keith through the years Country stars Willie Nelson, left, and Toby Keith appear at a press conference in Houston touting the pre-game show for Super Bowl XXXVIII on Friday, Jan. 30, 2004. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian) (KERVORK DJANSEZIAN/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Toby Keith through the years Toby Keith, right, performs with the Wayman Tisdale band at halftime of a men's NCAA basketball game featuring Texas agiainst Oklahoma in Norman, Okla, Saturday, Feb 6, 2010. Band member Mark Harper is at left. The game was game dedicated to the memory of late Sooners star Wayman Tisdale. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) (Sue Ogrocki/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Toby Keith through the years Toby Keith performs at the Oklahoma Twister Relief Concert at the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday, July 6, 2013 in Norman, Okla. (Photo by Alonzo Adams/Invision/AP) (Alonzo Adams, Wendi Hammock/Alonzo Adams, Wendi Hammock/Invision/AP)
Toby Keith through the years Toby Keith performs on stage at the 49th annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, April 6, 2014, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Toby Keith through the years Toby Keith performs in the audience at the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday, April 1, 2012 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) (Mark J. Terrill/AP)
Toby Keith through the years Singer Toby Keith performs during Country Music Television's "CMT Giants" honoring Hank Williams, Jr. in Los Angeles on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) (Matt Sayles/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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