GRAMMY award-winning CCM artist TobyMac returned to the stage this past weekend with a performance at Rock The Universe, his first public performance since the tragic passing of his oldest son Truett Foster McKeehan. Representatives for the singer confirmed last week that the 21-year-old died of an accidental overdose of fentanyl and amphetamines.
“Maybe some of you know, but my family and I have been facing the toughest couple months of our lives,” TobyMac shared upon taking the stage at Universal Studios. “For those people that don’t know, my first-born son passed away a couple of months ago and it’s been hard…I appreciate the prayers. I appreciate the encouragement posts, social media, we’re grateful to you. Thank you so much for surrounding us in love.”
He added, “One [thing] somebody told me was this, they said, ‘When something like this happens and we experience loss, like this, you’re going to start reaching for these promises of God. Some of them you thought He promised, but you might have been mistaken. God didn’t promise us no suffering or pain, or loss’…The promise I’ve been holding on to is that God will never leave us or forsake us. I’m believing that for me, as well as my son, that God will never leave us or forsake us.”
Truett was an aspiring independent rapper who released content online as Truett Foster, truDog, TRU and Shiloh. He passed on October 23rd, when medics were called to a home for reports of cardiac arrest, just days after his first live-show.
Earlier this month, TobyMac released a heart-breaking new song titled “21 Years” that was inspired by his son’s recent passing. The song has resonated with many and according to reporting from Billboard, the track marks the second-highest debut of his career on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart.
The McKeehan family has launched The Truett Foster Foundation in honor of their son. Now accepting donations at http://truett.life, the foundation will help afford kids the opportunity to pursue music education.
You can see TobyMac live in concert on the Hits Deep Tour 2020, which kicks off this weekend, followed by the rescheduled Theater Tour which runs through May. For all those details, visit http://tobymac.com/tour/.
