Brett Favre says the signs were all there when it came to Toby Keith’s final days.
The retired NFL quarterback, 54, revealed in an interview with TMZ Sports that he had spoken to the country music star, with whom he was good friends, a few days before he died on Monday from stomach cancer.
“I think in the end he was just tired,” Favre told the outlet. “He did say that to me when we had our conversation, he said, ‘Brett… whatever happens, I’m okay with it.’ ”
Favre, who said he called Keith every three months to check in on him, noted that he had hoped that the singer “turned a corner” on his health despite his sickly appearance at his December shows in Las Vegas. However, the “Red Solo Cup” singer didn’t have the best news to give him.
“He said, ‘I quit chemo and it probably did more damage to me than the cancer did,’ ” the former Green Bay Packers player shared. “And he said, ‘I just hope I didn’t quit it too late, but… I’m thankful I got a chance to play some shows. I finished them.’ ”
Favre then went on to praise Keith for his resilience throughout his stomach cancer journey, which began with his diagnosis in the fall of 2021. He said that the singer “put on a brave front” despite losing over 130 lbs.
“[Keith] handled it with grace and faith and family and stood up to the cancer as good as you can,” he said.
The former footballer also shared with TMZ that he often bonded with the country singer over golf, and while he couldn’t “remember a good or a bad shot he hit,” he did remember his sunny disposition.
“I can just remember him smiling, and had everyone hooting and hollering and having a lot of fun,” Favre shared.
Favre described Keith as someone who was “fun” and ”an entertainer” right until the end, adding, “He was the best.”
Keith “passed peacefully” on Monday night two years after being diagnosed with stomach cancer, his family shared in a statement posted on social media.
“Toby Keith passed peacefully last night on Feb. 5 surrounded by his family, the statement read. “He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”
Several of Keith’s friends, including Blake Shelton and Reba McEntire paid tribute to the country star. On X (formerly known as Twitter), Shelton described Keith as “the toughest man I ever met.”
He added, “Thank you for being a friend, a hero and an inspiration. There will never be another Toby Keith.”
McEntire shared, “We’re going to miss him so much, not only as a friend but a fellow performer and person in the music business and from Oklahoma,”
“But he doesn’t have to fight anymore, and he doesn’t have to hurt anymore,” she added of Keith. “I hope one day to get to see him up in Heaven. Thank God we have his wonderful music to keep us company, even though he’s not here on earth with us.”
[via]
