Longtime Toby Keith band member Joey Floyd dies

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Joey Floyd, a longtime band member in Toby Keith's Easy Money Band, has died. The singer shared the news on his Facebook page Monday morning.

Floyd died after a long battle with cancer, Keith says. "There will be a hole on stage and a hole in the hearts of all that loved him," he writes. "Rest in peace ol’ friend."

Floyd played guitar, banjo and fiddle for Keith and was an anchor for many years. He also introduced Keith to Willie Nelson. A 2003 article in Country Weekly reveals that Floyd knew Nelson from when he played the role of his son in the movie "Honeysuckle Rose" (1980). They kept in touch, and as Keith was becoming a star Floyd introduced him to Nelson, and they became fast friends and eventual duet partners.

Floyd's death comes nearly three years after Keith's longtime bassist Chuck Goff Jr. was killed in a car accident in Oklahoma. Goff, a co-writer on You Ain't Much Fun, was 54 years old.

Floyd's battle with cancer comes years after losing everything in the Nashville floods of 2010. The Texan is survived by wife Laurin, a loving family and millions of Keith fans who knew him well. Keith will return to the road on Monday night, playing the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo in Texas. Once again he has a full slate of spring and summer tour dates. He released his most recent album "35 MPH Town" in October.