Legendary country music singer and songwriter Toby Keith passed away Monday night, February 5, after a long hard fought battle with cancer.

“Toby Keith passed away peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family,” the statement read.

“He fought his fight with grace and courage,” it continued. “Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”

Many conservatives on social media early Tuesday morning issued thoughts, prayers, and condolences for the legendary icon.

Born in Clinton, Oklahoma, and raised in Moore, a suburb of Oklahoma City, Keith emerged as a country artist in the early 1990s and went on to become an icon of the genre. He sold between 25 million and 30 million records in the United States, depending on varying estimates, and his songs had more than 10 billion digital streaming plays.

His most recent album, “100% Songwriter,” was released in November.

His first single, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” was written in a motel bathroom in Dodge City, Kansas. 

Taken from his self-titled debut album, it came out in 1993 and shot to the top of the country charts in the United States and Canada, going on to become one of the most-played tunes on radio throughout the 1990s and beyond.

His other hits included “Beer for My Horses,” a duet with Willie Nelson, “I Love This Bar” and “Red Solo Cup.”

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Thanks to NBC News for contributing to this article.