Toby Keith is a Country Music Hall of Famer.

The legendary performer, who died back on Feb. 5 following a battle with stomach cancer, was named alongside John Anderson and James Burton Monday as this year’s Country Music Hall of Fame class.

Toby Keith performs during the Great Allentown Fair on Sept. 2, 2021.Ashli Truchon | lehighvalleylive.com contributor

Keith was elected as the “Modern Era Artist.”

His bio on the Country Music Hall of Fame website reads: “For nearly thirty years, Oklahoma native Toby Keith was one of the most consistent hitmakers in country music. Between 1993 and his death in 2024, he had forty-two Top Ten country hits and twenty #1 hits. Worldwide, he sold more than forty million records.

“Keith wrote or co-wrote most of his material, sharing a perspective on life that was by turns tough, tender, and humorous in hit songs such as “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,” “Hope on the Rocks,” and “As Good as I once Was.” A savvy businessman, he launched his own successful record label and publishing company.”

While the induction was well-deserved, many of Keith’s fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to express happiness that he made it while also noting that they were broken hearted that he did not receive the honor while alive.

“Better late than never but I wish they could have inducted him sooner so he could’ve lived to see it,” one person wrote.

“He has deserved it for many years, so sad it’s now that he is gone,” another wrote.

“Well it’s a shame that he didn’t get it before he passed away,” another wrote. “They could have let him know. Well, he’s in heaven singing his heart out now. Congratulations Toby.”