Stephen Colbert Reflects On His 'Unlikely' Friendship With Toby Keith In Emotional Tribute

Late night host Stephen Colbert paid poignant tribute to country music star Toby Keith after his death from stomach cancer, remarking how Keith "taught me to not pre-judge a guest."

Colbert began by expressing his shock and sadness upon learning of Keith's death, acknowledging the singer's prolonged struggle with stomach cancer. Despite the challenges, there was hope for a future meeting and performance on Colbert's show. Colbert revealed that he and Keith had developed an unexpected friendship over the years.

He said:

“I was shocked and saddened when I saw the news this morning. I knew Toby was ill — he’d been fighting stomach cancer for some time — but I still had hope that we would see each other again and that we would hear him on this stage. Because I was lucky enough to become friends with Toby over the years, as improbable as that seems.”

Recalling a pivotal 2006 interview on The Colbert Report, Colbert shared a transformative experience with Keith. The host mentioned a preconceived plan related to Keith's song "Courtesy Of The Red, White, And Blue (The Angry American)," known for its post-9/11 patriotism and a feud it sparked with Natalie Maines of The Chicks.

However, Colbert reflected on a moment of introspection before going on stage, realizing the importance of making the guest feel welcome:

“Back then, there was a not-so-helpful legend that I had knives out for some of my guests, and it didn’t help that at the beginning, I sometimes did. And I remember having some kind of plan for Toby, I think related to his ‘boot in your ass’ song."

"But right before I went on stage, I remember vividly looking down at my shoes and saying, ‘What are you doing? You’re a host. He’s your guest. Make him feel welcome. See who he is.’"

"And what do you know? And we hit it off like a house afire. I couldn’t believe how much I enjoyed talking to Toby Keith.”

You can hear what Colbert said in the video below.

Forever Grateful For Toby Keith - Stephen Colbert Bids Farewell To A Country Music Legendyoutu.be

Colbert recounted a post-interview interaction where Keith complimented him, saying, "Hey man: You do a great job, whatever the f**k it is you do," which he took as a significant compliment. Expressing gratitude for the unexpected lessons learned from Keith, Colbert emphasized the importance of not pre-judging guests and keeping an open mind about who they are.

He acknowledged that their friendship might have seemed unlikely, comparing it humorously to the excitement when a duck and a horse become friends:

“That day, Toby taught me to not pre-judge a guest, and to have my intention, but to keep my eyes open to the reality of who they are. And for that lesson, and for a lot of other things, I’m always gonna be grateful.”

“I think he enjoyed how unlikely a pair we seemed. I sure did. You know, like, when people are excited when a duck and a horse are friends? Well for the record, I was the duck.”

Colbert also highlighted Keith's ability to surprise people, referencing an instance where the country star gave a standing ovation to Barack Obama during his Nobel acceptance speech.

In a heartfelt conclusion, Colbert issued an invitation to unity, urging people to come together despite differences and mourn the loss of Keith:

“Toby taught me not to judge people too quickly, and with his passing, I will try to remember that again. It’s something we all need to remember."

"‘Cause I’m sure Toby and I disagreed about many things, as so many Americans do these days. More and more of us are angrier angrier with each other.”

“But tonight, I will issue this invitation to anybody: I do not care who you are. I will meet you at this place. I will meet you at being broken-hearted that Toby Keith is gone. Thank you, big dog.”

Many appreciated Colbert's tribute.

Keith died of stomach cancer on February 5 at the age of 62.

The passing of Keith has prompted doctors to highlight awareness of the disease responsible for approximately 11,000 deaths in the U.S. annually.

Dr. Jason Henry, a medical oncologist at Sarah Cannon Research Institute at HealthONE in Denver, emphasized that early signs of stomach cancer can be easily dismissed. He explained that the presence of stomach cancer disrupts the normal progression of food, leading to symptoms such as heartburn, weight loss, and abdominal pain.

In addition to these, patients may experience nausea, vomiting, tiredness, and in advanced stages, black stool. Dr. Henry pointed out the challenges in diagnosing stomach cancer due to its vague symptoms, often resulting in late-stage diagnosis, which becomes incurable.

Identified risk factors for stomach cancer include age, obesity, a high-salt diet, alcohol or tobacco use, and a history of H. pylori bacterial infection. Early detection is important for effective treatment.