Toby Keith, the country music legend who died on Monday at the age of 62, was known for his patriotic songs, his outspoken views, and his feuds with other artists. But he was also the subject of rumors and speculation about his sexuality, especially after he expressed support for gay marriage in 2011. Was Toby gay? And what was the controversy behind his gender scandal? Here’s what we know.
Toby Keith’s Support for Gay Marriage
In 2011, Toby Keith surprised many of his fans and critics when he told CMT Insider that he had no problem with gay marriage and that he didn’t think it was the government’s business to interfere with people’s personal lives. He said:
That whole gay issue thing, that’s never bothered me. I’ve never seen what that affects and [why] anybody should care—and they never do affect me. First of all, we’re going to stop somebody from getting a marriage licence because they’re gay? You won’t stop them from living together, so what have you accomplished?… Wasting a lot of money here and a lot of time that could be spent working on this deficit that we’re under… I never saw the reasoning behind getting in people’s personal lives.
Keith’s statement was seen as a rare example of a country music star endorsing gay rights, as the genre was often associated with conservative values and traditional views on marriage and family. Keith himself described his political affiliation as “an extremely conservative Democrat” and later as an independent. He said he didn’t care about labels and that he was “comfortable being extreme” in his opinions.
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Keith’s Gender Scandal
However, Keith’s support for gay marriage also sparked rumors and speculation about his own sexuality. Some people wondered if he was gay or bisexual himself, and if he had any secret relationships with other men. These rumors were fueled by various sources, such as:
- A website called Vooxpopuli, which claimed that Keith had never made any public statement about his sexuality and that all rumors about him being gay were “completely unfounded and unproven”. The website also suggested that Keith coming out of the closet in 2024 would be a surprise because no one expected it.
- A website called MDDailyRecord, which stated that Keith was neither gay nor bisexual and that his sexual orientation was straight. The website also provided details about Keith’s marriage, children, and grandchildren.
- A website called Equally Wed, which praised Keith for being a supporter of gay marriage and called him “the country strong”. The website also quoted Keith as saying, “I don’t think I’ll ever get to a point where I won’t see him and be like, ‘oh my God, that’s Keith’” about another country star, Trace Adkins, who was also rumored to be gay.
None of these sources provided any conclusive evidence or confirmation about Keith’s sexuality, and Keith himself never addressed the rumors directly. He seemed to focus on his music, his family, and his fans, and avoided getting involved in any scandals or controversies. He was married to Tricia Lucas for nearly 40 years, and they had three children and four grandchildren together. He was also a successful businessman, who founded his own record label, Show Dog Nashville, and several restaurants and bars.
Mr. Keith’s Legacy
Toby was one of the most influential and popular country music artists of his generation. He sold over 40 million albums worldwide, had 20 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, and won several awards, including four ACM Awards, two CMA Awards, and a National Medal of the Arts. He was also known for his patriotic songs, such as “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)”, which he wrote after the 9/11 attacks and which became a rallying anthem for many Americans. He also performed for US troops in several countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan.
However, Keith was also a controversial figure, who often clashed with other artists, such as The Chicks and Peter Jennings, over his political views and his lyrics. He was also the target of criticism and boycotts from some groups, who accused him of being racist, sexist, or warmongering. He was also the subject of rumors and speculation about his sexuality, which he never confirmed or denied.
Keith died on February 5, 2024, after a long battle with stomach cancer. He was surrounded by his family and friends, who said he “fought his fight with grace and courage”. He left behind a legacy of music, controversy, and mystery, and a question that may never be answered: Was Toby Keith gay?
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