From the Herald-Leader archives: Toby Keith took stage at Jeff Ruby’s while fighting cancer

Editor’s note: Highly-accomplished country singer Toby Keith died Monday at 62 years old, according to media reports. The singer-songwriter had battled stomach cancer, which he announced in 2022 he’d been diagnosed with. During that battle with cancer, Keith chose to take the stage at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse in Lexington just over a year ago. From the Herald-Leader archives, here is our story on that occasion. Keith also headlined an event of country music stars at Rupp Arena several years ago.

After a year fighting stomach cancer, country music artist Toby Keith returned to the stage Friday at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse in Lexington, a restaurant official said on social media.

“Toby Keith is on the mend!! After a year of fighting stomach cancer, he chose Jeff Ruby’s Lexington stage to sing with Jeff Ruby. His first time singing in over a year! ...Toby sang for an hour,” Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment CEO Britney Ruby Miller posted on Facebook Saturday. The post had more than 5,000 views by Sunday.

Miller is the daughter of restaurateur Jeff Ruby.

Keith announced in June that he has stomach cancer.

Keith is a celebrity Breeders’ Cup Ambassador, according to breederscup.com, and was in town for the thoroughbred racing championships at Keeneland Race Course.

In the Facebook video posted by Miller of Keith and Ruby at the restaurant, Keith said he had not worked in about a year.

He and Ruby sang songs that included, “(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay.”