Remembering Toby Keith: A Tribute to a True Oklahoma Legend

Gone too soon, but his country spirit rides on forever.

Hey y’all,

I’ve been meaning to sit down and write this all month. With everything going on, I just had to take a moment to share my thoughts on someone who’s been a huge influence on me and so many others.

Well, folks, I gotta say how proud I am of Toby Keith. July 30th 2024 was something real special, all in honor of a proud Oklahoman who made it big on the global stage. Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena was packed with Toby’s adoring fans, and they all came out to celebrate him the way he deserves. The whole place was sold out for “Toby Keith: American Icon,” and boy, was it a night to remember.

They honored Toby’s life and career with some downright incredible performances and stories. They even taped it all live for a two-hour TV special that aired Wednesday, August 28 on NBC, with streaming available starting the next day on Peacock. Check it out!

The night kicked off with Carrie Underwood getting things going with “A Little Less Talk And A Lot More Action,” and from there, it was one Toby hit after another. Eric Church got everyone up and movin’ with “As Good As I Once Was,” and Brantley Gilbert and HARDY brought the house down with “How Do You Like Me Now?!” Riley Green and Ella Langley had some fun with “Who’s Your Daddy?” and Ashley McBryde took us all back with “Wish I Didn’t Know Now.” Luke Bryan even threw on a black cowboy hat to sing “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” and Lainey Wilson rode her “Yellowstone” horse Cowboy right onto the stage to join Jamey Johnson for “Beer For My Horses.”

Toby’s love for our military was front and center, with a big ol' U.S. flag and VIP seats for service members. The whole night felt like a big country get-together, just how Toby would’ve wanted it—a fitting tribute to the larger-than-life entertainer that he is.

There were some tender moments too. Toby’s daughter Shelley introduced her sister Krystal for a beautiful version of “Don’t Let the Old Man In,” and they even showed some never-before-seen footage of Toby singing Joe Diffie’s “Ships That Don’t Come In.” The Honor Guard and U.S. Army Band gave us all chills with “America The Beautiful,” and Trace Adkins, who’s one of Toby’s closest pals, paid a heartfelt tribute before singing “American Soldier,” backed by Mac McAnally. Trace quoted Toby, saying, “Never apologize for being patriotic,” and that got the whole crowd chanting “USA! USA! USA!”

Toby’s big heart shined bright too, as the night was all for a good cause, benefiting Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and The Toby Keith Foundation’s OK Kids Korral. Families who’ve been helped by these organizations shared their stories, showing just how much Toby’s work has meant to them.

The night wrapped up in true Toby fashion with Parker McCollum leading a rousing rendition of “Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue,” and nearly everyone who performed that night joined him on stage.

There were also some real nice messages from folks like Dolly Parton, Carrot Top, Blake Shelton, Stephen Colbert, Reba McEntire, George Strait, General Jones, Willie Nelson, Sammy Hagar, Miranda Lambert, Brett Favre, and others, all tipping their hats to the one and only Toby Keith.

Toby Keith, a true Oklahoma boy through and through, was one of the most down-to-earth and creative voices in country music. With 42 top 10 hits, 33 No. 1s, 44 million albums sold, 100 million BMI performances, and over 10 billion streams, Toby’s songs have reached folks from every walk of life, not just here in America, but all over the world. Tunes like

“Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue (The Angry American),” and “I Love This Bar” are gonna be around for a long, long time. Getting into the Country Music Hall of Fame was just icing on the cake for a proud Oklahoman and global legend like Toby. Even though he’s no longer with us, his music and legacy will keep on shining bright, inspiring us all for years to come.

So here’s to you, Toby. You’ve done Oklahoma proud, and you’ve made your mark on the world.

And to all my fans out there, if you want to hear a little bit of that down-home pride, take a listen to my debut single, "Don’t Get America Wrong." It’s out now, and I’d love for y’all to give it a listen.

Thanks for reading.

Tucker Gentry

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