Jeff Ruby shares tribute to 'close friend,' country music star Toby Keith

A Cincinnati restaurateur is mourning the loss of country music star Toby Keith.

Jeff Ruby shared a montage of their many photos together on X on Tuesday.

"The world will mourn the incredible songwriter & hall of fame country legend Toby was. I will mourn the man of faith & close friend he was," Ruby captioned the clip. "Praying for Trish and the entire family."

Keith died Monday night after a three-year battle with stomach cancer, according to a statement on his website. He was 62 years old.

The "Red Solo Cup" singer surprised patrons at Ruby's Lexington steakhouse with an impromptu performance in 2022 while in town for the Breeders’ Cup.

Ruby joined him on stage for a duet of "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding.

"I’ve been knowing this guy for a long, long time, and I just told him back there, I just come from London and France for 14 days to get back to Breeders’ Cup," Keith said of Ruby. "I just ate the finest (expletive) meal I've had in 14 days. Jeff Ruby’s has the baddest a-- steak in the freaking planet, y'all."

Ruby posted about the visit on X, writing, "Seeing ⁦⁦@tobykeith⁩ alive, well, being Toby and looking great (and trim too) was an incredible thing to see."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Toby Keith was a 'man of faith': Cincinnati restaurateur posts tribute