Country Singer-Songwriter. He was one of three children of Carolyn Joan (née Ross) and Hubert K. Covel Jr. He began playing guitar at age eight. Keith graduated from Oklahoma's Moore High School and went to work in the oil fields. During this time, he formed his first band at 20. When the oil industry declined in the early 1980s, he played semi-pro football as a defensive end with the Oklahoma City Drillers and continued to play music. After failing to move to a professional football team, he moved to Nashville and worked as a busker until he signed his first record deal. In 1993, his debut single, "Should've Been a Cowboy," from his self-titled debut album (certified platinum), reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country chart. Keith released 19 studio albums, two Christmas albums, and five compilation albums, selling over 40 million albums worldwide. He charted 61 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including 20 number-one hits and 22 additional Top 10 hits. He received the National Medal of Arts from President Donald Trump in 2021. Originally describing himself as a "conservative Democrat," Keith became known for his often controversial conservative politics and patriotic lyrics. In 1984, Keith married Tricia Lucus, and they had three children. In 2021, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer, which took his life just over two years later, on February 5, 2024. While news reports have circulated that he was buried at Rose Hill Burial Park in Oklahoma City, his widow has confirmed that he will not be buried in a public cemetery but instead will be buried privately in a family cemetery near his residence for privacy and protection. In 2024, he was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Country Singer-Songwriter. He was one of three children of Carolyn Joan (née Ross) and Hubert K. Covel Jr. He began playing guitar at age eight. Keith graduated from Oklahoma's Moore High School and went to work in the oil fields. During this time, he formed his first band at 20. When the oil industry declined in the early 1980s, he played semi-pro football as a defensive end with the Oklahoma City Drillers and continued to play music. After failing to move to a professional football team, he moved to Nashville and worked as a busker until he signed his first record deal. In 1993, his debut single, "Should've Been a Cowboy," from his self-titled debut album (certified platinum), reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country chart. Keith released 19 studio albums, two Christmas albums, and five compilation albums, selling over 40 million albums worldwide. He charted 61 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including 20 number-one hits and 22 additional Top 10 hits. He received the National Medal of Arts from President Donald Trump in 2021. Originally describing himself as a "conservative Democrat," Keith became known for his often controversial conservative politics and patriotic lyrics. In 1984, Keith married Tricia Lucus, and they had three children. In 2021, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer, which took his life just over two years later, on February 5, 2024. While news reports have circulated that he was buried at Rose Hill Burial Park in Oklahoma City, his widow has confirmed that he will not be buried in a public cemetery but instead will be buried privately in a family cemetery near his residence for privacy and protection. In 2024, he was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Bio by: HH
Gravesite Details
He is buried in the same cemetery as his dad. They are building his monument. It matches the gates to his house.
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Keith memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement