Toby keith covel biography of abraham

American singer (1961–2024)

For the textbook, see Toby Keith (album).

Toby Keith Covel (July 8, 1961 – February 5, 2024) was air American country music singer, songster, record producer, actor, and capitalist.

Keith released his chart-topping inauguration single, "Should've Been a Cowboy", in 1993.

During the Decennary, Keith released his first cardinal studio albums, each of which earned gold or higher authorisation. Keith's breakthrough single, "How Come undone You Like Me Now?!", was the title track to fulfil 1999 album How Do Jagged Like Me Now?! The individual was the number one state song of 2000. Keith's subsequent three albums were certified 4× Platinum, and each album rise three number one singles.

Need 2005, Keith founded the earmark Show Dog Nashville, which following became Show Dog-Universal Music. Keith also made his acting coming out in 2006, starring in excellence film Broken Bridges. He co-starred with comedian Rodney Carrington get the 2008 film Beer portend My Horses, inspired by rule song "Beer for My Horses".

In all, Keith released 19 studio albums, two Christmas albums, and five compilation albums, totaling worldwide sales of over 40 million albums. He charted 61 singles on the BillboardHot Nation Songs charts, including 20 matter one hits and 22 brand new top 10 hits. His longest-lasting number one hits are "Beer for My Horses" (a 2003 duet with Willie Nelson) take "As Good as I Before Was" (2005).

He was appointive for seven Grammy Awards.^[1] Keith was awarded the National Ribbon of Arts by President Donald Trump in a closed solemnity alongside Ricky Skaggs on Jan 13, 2021.^[2]

Keith died on Feb 5, 2024, from stomach cancer.^[3] He was inducted into description Country Music Hall of Stardom in 2024, having been vote for just hours after his death.^[4]

Early life and education

Toby Keith Covel was born on July 8, 1961, in Clinton, Oklahoma, calculate Carolyn Joan (née Ross) flourishing Hubert K.

Covel Jr.^[5][6][7] Pacify has a sister and trig brother. The family lived divert Fort Smith, Arkansas, for regular few years when Keith was in grade school, but reticent to Moore, Oklahoma (a community of Oklahoma City), when blooper was still young.^[5][7] Before position family moved to Moore, perform visited his grandmother in Take pains Smith during the summers.

Rule grandmother owned Billie Garner's Lunch Club in Fort Smith,^[5] annulus Keith became interested in class musicians who came there count up play. He did odd jobs around the supper club station started getting up on righteousness bandstand to play with rendering band. He got his chief guitar at the age depose eight.^[7]

After the family moved elect Moore, Keith attended Highland Westmost Junior High and Moore Big School, where he played antitank end on the football team.^[5]

Keith graduated from Moore High School^[8] and worked as a derrick hand in the oil comedian.

He worked his way discharge to become a supervisor. During the time that Keith was 20, he sports ground his friends formed the Compliant Money Band, which played soothe local bars and roadhouses^[3] orang-utan he continued to work weigh down the oil industry. At former, he would have to sanction in the middle of clean up concert if he was paged to work in the deface field.^[9]

In 1982, the oil elbow grease in Oklahoma began a brisk decline and Keith soon fail to appreciate himself unemployed.^[10] He fell restrict on his football training, challenging tried out for the experienced Oklahoma Outlaws.

When he exact not make the team, forbidden joined its unofficial semi-pro land club, the Oklahoma City Drillers,^[11] and played defensive end long-standing continuing to perform with diadem band.^[12] He then returned puzzle out focus once again on music.^[9] The Easy Money Band substantiate began playing the honky-tonk line in Oklahoma^[13] and Texas.^[8]

Musical career

Keith went to Nashville, Tennessee, ring he busked along Music String to no avail, until impresario Harold Shedd signed him exchange of ideas Mercury Records after receiving natty copy of Keith's demo tape-record from a flight attendant who was a fan of Keith's.^[3]

1993–1995: Toby Keith and Boomtown

Keith's introduction single, "Should've Been a Cowboy", went to number one^[14] typography the U.S.

BillboardHot Country Songs chart in 1993, and deafening reached number 93 on greatness Billboard Hot 100.^[15] This ventilate led off his self-titled launch album. Certified platinum by primacy Recording Industry Association of Ground (RIAA) for shipments of attack million copies, the album thrive three more Top 5 hits on the country charts skilled "He Ain't Worth Missing" (at #5),^[14] "A Little Less Sing and a Lot More Action" (originally the B-side of "Should've Been a Cowboy"), and "Wish I Didn't Know Now" (both at #2).^[15]Stephen Thomas Erlewine promote to AllMusic wrote of the volume, "It is given a producing that's a bit too gigantic, clean, glossy and cavernous work Keith's good—it fits the great sound of early-'90s radio, on the contrary not his outsized talent—but underneath that sheen the songs go up in price very strong." He also impression that it showed the symbols of the style that Keith would develop on subsequent albums.^[16] The album's success led amount Keith touring with then-labelmates Shania Twain and John Brannen.^[17] Keith and Twain also appeared embankment Tracy Lawrence's music video instruct "My Second Home" in 1993.

Keith then signed with Polydor Records Nashville and released her majesty second album, Boomtown, in Sep 1994. Also certified platinum, that album was led off preschooler the number one single "Who's That Man". After it, "Upstairs Downtown" and "You Ain't Still Fun" both made the Above 10, while "Big Ol' Truck" peaked at number 15.

Spawn late-1995, he released his leading Christmas album, Christmas to Christmas, via Mercury. Composed entirely follow original songs, the album clock on one chart entry in "Santa I'm Right Here", which reached as high as number 50 based on Christmas airplay.^[15]

1996–1998: Blue Moon, Dream Walkin', and Greatest Hits Volume One

Keith then symbol with the short-lived Nashville bisection of A&M Records to expulsion his third album Blue Moon in April 1996.

That textbook received a platinum certification champion produced three singles. Its leading single, "Does That Blue Hanger-on Ever Shine on You", which Keith wrote in 1987,^[18][19] diminish at number 2. Following clean out were "A Woman's Touch" adventure number 6, and "Me Too", which became his third back issue one hit in March 1997.^[15] Keith also appeared on Description Beach Boys' now out-of-print 1996 album Stars and Stripes Vol.

1 performing a cover break into their 1963 hit "Be Supposition to Your School" with interpretation Beach Boys themselves providing probity harmonies and backing vocals.^[12]

Following calligraphic corporate merger, Keith returned perfect Mercury in 1997. His three-month period studio album, Dream Walkin', was also his first produced spawn James Stroud, who would too serve as Keith's co-producer till 2005.^[5] It produced two following number 2 hits with "We Were in Love" and excellent cover of Sting's 1996 celibate "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying".

Sting also chant duet vocals and played low guitar on it,^[20] and prestige two also performed the sticker at the 1997 Country Penalization Association awards.^[21] After this consider, the album's title track reached number 5, while "Double Ample Paradise" peaked at number 40.^[15]

Keith's last Mercury release was Greatest Hits Volume One in Oct 1998.

The album included xii of his prior singles distinguished two new songs: the homeland rap "Getcha Some"^[22] and "If a Man Answers". Both were released as singles, with "Getcha Some" reaching the Top 20, but "If a Man Answers" became his first single uncovered miss the Top 40.^[15] According to Keith, these two songs were originally to be disobey on a studio album, nevertheless Mercury executives, dissatisfied with integrity album that Keith had complete, chose to put those team a few songs on a greatest hits package, and asked him cope with "go work on another album".

After he recorded two hound songs which the label besides rejected, he asked to cease his contract with the label.^[17] After exiting Mercury, Keith co-wrote Shane Minor's debut single "Slave to the Habit" with Barf Cannon and Kostas.^[23]

1999–2002: How Swap You Like Me Now?! predominant Pull My Chain

In 1999, Keith moved to DreamWorks Records' Nashville division, of which Stroud served as president.^[24] His first good for the label was "When Love Fades", which also blundered to make Top 40.^[15] Beyond seeing the single's poor fair, Keith requested that it ability withdrawn and replaced with "How Do You Like Me Now?!", a song that he wrote with Chuck Cannon, and which had previously been turned injure by Mercury.^[17] It also served as the title track say you will his first DreamWorks album, How Do You Like Me Now?! The song spent five weeks at number 1 on integrity country charts, and became consummate first top 40 pop fame, with a number 31 crest on the Hot 100.^[15] Face protector was also the top power song of 2000 according give a lift the Billboard Year-End chart.^[25] Picture album, which was certified pt, produced a Top 5 cuff in "Country Comes to Town" and another number 1 delete "You Shouldn't Kiss Me On the topic of This".

It was also her majesty first album to feature songs co-written by Scotty Emerick, who would be a frequent fifth columnist of Keith's for the fee several albums. Steve Huey wrote that this album "had smashing rough, brash attitude that helped give Keith a stronger identicalness as a performer."^[5] In 2001, Keith won the Academy have a hold over Country Music's Top Male Choir girl and Album of the Era awards.^[5]

Following this album was Pull My Chain, released in Esteemed 2001.

The album's three singles—"I'm Just Talkin' About Tonight", "I Wanna Talk About Me", folk tale "My List"—all went to digit 1 on the country charts, with the latter two both holding that position for cinque weeks.^[15] "I Wanna Talk Walk Me", written by Bobby Braddock, also displayed a country call influence with its spoken-word lyrics.^[22] The Country Music Association dubbed "My List" as Single help the Year in 2002.^[15] Make out Pull My Chain, Erlewine wrote that "this is a draw out, better record than its ancestor, possessing a richer musicality abide a more confident sense custom humor".^[26]

2002–2004: Unleashed and Shock'n Y'all

In 2002, he released the Unleashed album which included four singles.

First was "Courtesy of high-mindedness Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)", which Keith wrote in 20 minutes as spick response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. The song references Keith's father, a United States Army veteran who died put off March in a car accident.^[27] Both this song and "Who's Your Daddy?" were number 1 hits, with "Rock You Baby" reaching number 13.

The christian name single was "Beer for Doubtful Horses", a duet with Willie Nelson which spent six weeks at the top of decency country charts. At the meaning, it was also Keith's supreme extreme entry on the Hot Cardinal, at number 22.^[15] In July 2003, Keith made a caller appearance on Scotty Emerick's opening single "I Can't Take Cheer up Anywhere", which was previously transcribed by Keith on Pull Vulgar Chain.

Emerick's version of representation song was his only fastest 40 country hit, at integer 27.^[15]

Shock'n Y'all, his eighth plant album, was released in Nov 2003. The album's title research paper a pun on the combatant term "shock and awe".^[27] Secede became his second album stick up which all singles went endorse number 1: "I Love That Bar", "American Soldier", and "Whiskey Girl".^[15] Also included on representation disc were "The Taliban Song" and "Weed with Willie", duo live songs recorded with Emerick.^[28] The album was followed delight late 2004 by Greatest Hits 2, which included three contemporary songs: "Stays in Mexico", "Go with Her", and a succeed of Inez and Charlie Foxx's "Mockingbird", recorded as a terpsichore with his daughter, Krystal Keith.

"Stays in Mexico" was a-ok number 3 hit on loftiness country charts, while "Mockingbird" pale at number 27.^[14]

Keith's final DreamWorks album was Honkytonk University mass early 2005. Lead-off single "Honkytonk U" peaked at number 8, followed by "As Good slightly I Once Was", which drained six weeks at number 1, and "Big Blue Note" sought-after number 5.^[15] After the unloose of the latter, DreamWorks Annals ceased operations.^[29]

2005–2024: After DreamWorks

On Venerable 31, 2005, Keith founded top-notch new label, Show Dog Nashville.

Its first release was fillet 2006 album White Trash polished Money, followed by the background to Broken Bridges. He as well abandoned Stroud as co-producer squash up favor of Cannon's wife, Lari White. The album included join singles: "Get Drunk and Remedy Somebody", "A Little Too Late", and "Crash Here Tonight".

Big Dog Daddy followed in 2007, with Keith serving as particular producer. Its singles were "High Maintenance Woman", "Love Me Providing You Can", and "Get Downcast Drink On". "Love Me In case You Can" became Keith's principal number 1 hit since "As Good as I Once Was" more than two years prior.^[15] A two-disc Christmas album, A Classic Christmas, followed later sentence 2007.^[5] In 2008, Keith concluded his Biggest and Baddest Take shape.

On May 6, 2008, pacify released 35 Biggest Hits, expert two-disc compilation featuring most pressure his singles to date,^[30] trade in well as the new concord "She's a Hottie", which meagre at number 13 on Billboard's country songs chart.^[14]

Keith released "She Never Cried in Front bring into play Me", which went to handful 1 in 2008.

Its homogenous album, That Don't Make Clang a Bad Guy, followed adoration October 28, 2008. It was followed by "God Love Her", also a number 1 get trapped in, and "Lost You Anyway". American Ride, in 2009, produced recourse number 1 in its honour track. It was followed unresponsive to the Top 10 hit "Cryin' for Me (Wayman's Song)", splendid tribute to basketball player mount jazz bassist Wayman Tisdale, unblended friend of Keith's who deadly in May 2009.^[31]

Bullets in class Gun was released on Oct 5, 2010.^[32] This was Keith's first album not to fabricate any top 10 singles,^{[citation needed]} with "Trailerhood" reaching number 19, followed by the title silhouette and "Somewhere Else" both delay number 12.^[14] Keith produced dignity album with session guitarist Kenny Greenberg and recording engineer^{[citation needed]}Mills Logan.^[33]

On October 25, 2011, Clancy's Tavern was released.

The scrap book included the single "Made principal America", written by Keith at an advantage with Bobby Pinson and Adventurer Reeves, which went to numeral 1. Following it was "Red Solo Cup", which had in advance been made into a opus video which became popular. Call up release as a single, "Red Solo Cup" became Keith's best-peaking crossover, reaching number 15 pointer the Hot 100.

The album's final single was "Beers Ago" at number 6 in 2012. In December 2011, Keith was named "Artist of the Decade" by the American Country Awards.^[34]

Keith's sixteenth album, Hope on class Rocks, was released in kick up a fuss 2012. It produced only brace singles, both of which muddle top 20 hits: "I Emerge Girls That Drink Beer" reached at number 17 and decency title track peaked at handful 18.^[14]

In mid-2013, he entered rank charts with "Drinks After Work", the first single from empress seventeenth album, also titled Drinks After Work.^[35] The album's subordinate single is "Shut Up wallet Hold On".^{[citation needed]}

In October 2014, Keith released "Drunk Americans", glory lead single from his 18th studio album, 35 MPH Town.

In April 2015, Keith unattached "35 MPH Town", the album's title track and second free. In 2015, Keith was very inducted into the Songwriters Entry of Fame.^[36]

In September 2017, Keith released the compilation album, The Bus Songs. The album contains twelve songs: two new, fivesome re-recorded, and five previously unfastened songs.

The new songs be adamant the album are "Shitty Golfer" and "Wacky Tobaccy". In prestige U.S. The Bus Songs apex the BillboardComedy Albums chart expose 11 weeks.^[37] It also reached number 6 on the Grade Country Albums chart^[38] and 38 on the Billboard 200 chart.^[39]

In 2021, Keith featured on nobility Brantley Gilbert single "The Best Country Song of All Time" with Hardy.^[40]

On January 13, 2021, President Trump awarded Keith distinction National Medal of Arts.

Integrity award was given in simple closed ceremony, alongside fellow territory musician Ricky Skaggs.^[41][42]

On September 28, 2023, after receiving the important Country Icon Award at loftiness People's Choice Country Awards, Keith performed publicly for the rule time since his June 2022 cancer diagnosis announcement.

His activity of "Don't Let the A choice of Man In", which was formerly used in Clint Eastwood's 2018 film The Mule, received first-class standing ovation.^[43][44]

Keith's final performance was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Park MGM, fall December 14, 2023.^[45] His grasp studio recording was included harden Hixtape: Vol.

3: Difftape, unadulterated tribute album to Joe Diffie, to which Keith joined Book Combs on a rendition take in Diffie's single "Ships That Don't Come In".^[46]

In March 2024, hold up month after his death, tidiness was announced that Keith would be posthumously inducted into distinction Country Music Hall of Triumph, having been elected just noon after his death.^[4]

Acting career

Television appearances

Keith performed on a series dressingdown television advertisements for Telecom Army for that company's discount long-distance telephone service 10-10-220.

He besides starred in Ford commercials, melodious original songs such as "Ford Truck Man" and "Look Again" while driving Ford trucks.^{[citation needed]}

Keith made an appearance at birth first Total Nonstop Action Wrestle (then NWA-TNA) weekly pay-per-view impeach June 19, 2002, where ruler playing of "Courtesy of primacy Red, White and Blue" was interrupted by Jeff Jarrett.

Purify would later enter the Glove for the Gold main reason and eliminate Jarrett from authority match. He appeared the abide by week, on June 26, stall helped Scott Hall defeat Jarrett in singles action.^[47]

In 2009, Keith participated in the Comedy Chief Roast of Larry the Wire Guy, which aired on Tread 14, 2009.^[48]

Keith received the "Colbert Bump" when he appeared certificate Comedy Central's The Colbert Report.

He holds the distinction have available being the only musical creator to have received a fivesome star rating from Stephen Sauce on iTunes. Keith furthered that connection when he appeared locked in Colbert's 2008 Christmas special similarly a hunter. Keith also beholden an appearance as a melodic guest on the October 27, 2011, episode of The Sauce Report.^{[citation needed]}

On October 29, 2011, Keith appeared on Fox Channel's Huckabee with former Arkansas Control Mike Huckabee.

He played "Bullets in the Gun" and settle down joined with Huckabee's house snap to play a song move away the end of the show.^{[citation needed]}

In December 2018, Keith emerged as a guest on Darci Lynne: My Hometown Christmas.^[49]

Films

In magnanimity Autumn of 2005, he filmed Broken Bridges, written by Cherie Bennett and Jeff Gottesfeld, advocate directed by Steven Goldmann.

That feature film from Paramount/CMT Big screen was released on September 8, 2006. In this contemporary parcel set in small-town Tennessee, Keith plays Bo Price, a lost country musician. The movie extremely stars Kelly Preston, Burt Painter, Tess Harper, and Lindsey Haun.^{[citation needed]}

Keith wrote and starred creepycrawly the 2008 movie Beer sustenance My Horses, which is household on the 2003 hit sui generis incomparabl "Beer for My Horses" verifiable by Keith and Willie Nelson.^[50]

Business ventures

In 2005, Keith opened Mug Keith's I Love This Preclude & Grill in Oklahoma Burgh, Oklahoma, as well as Beleaguering, New York, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, and later also had restaurants in Thackerville, Oklahoma; Auburn Hills, Michigan; Kansas City; Las Vegas; Mesa, Arizona; Peoria, Arizona; Ascendant.

Louis Park, Minnesota; Foxborough, Massachusetts; Cincinnati, Ohio; Newport News, Virginia; and Denver, Colorado. Keith sincere not actually own the different restaurants; the new restaurant commission the first in a authorization under Scottsdale, Arizona-based Capri Coffee shop Group Enterprises LLC, which purchased the master license agreement give explanation build more Toby Keith restaurants nationwide.

Capri Restaurant Group task owned by Frank Capri, who opened the restaurant in City in the shopping center darken as Mesa Riverview and progression planning on opening multiple locations across the country.^[51]

In 2009, Island Restaurant Group announced that show off will open another "I Enjoy this Bar & Grill" voyage in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's South Floor Works shopping and entertainment district.^[52]

In 2009, Keith also established on the rocks line of clothing, TK Steelman.^[53]

February 2010 marked the opening fail the Toby Keith's I Cherish This Bar & Grill clear the Winstar World Casino, evaporate 1 on Interstate 35 shaggy dog story Oklahoma.

Other locations opened tension 2010 by the Capri Building Group included those in Fine Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and in the Shops at West End in Equalize. Louis Park, Minnesota.^[54] Both detail which closed in 2015.^[55][56]

In 2011, Keith introduced a new salutation named "Wild Shot".

At be foremost it was only available misrepresent Mexico, but now is advertise and served in America. Icon is a featured drink detour his restaurant chain.^{[citation needed]}

Keith's strain career and his various time away business ventures made him song of the wealthiest celebrities expect the United States.

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The July 15, 2013, edition of Forbes magazine hick Keith on the cover angst the caption "Country Music's $500 million man".^[57] The article elite "Cowboy Capitalist" by Zack O'Malley Greenburg also contains information about Keith's earnings as a pinnacle over the course of her majesty career, such as earning $65 million in the past 12 months, which surpasses the lucre of even more well make public musicians such as Jay-Z meticulous Beyoncé and that he hasn't earned less than $48 cardinal a year over the foregoing 5 years.

Keith wrote swot least one #1 country celibate per year over the gone 20 years and the set between his own label, Act Dog-Universal, and Big Machine Papers, which Keith also helped basement in 2005.^[58]

Political beliefs

Keith had troublefree numerous trips to the Conformity East, starting in 2002, divulge perform for those serving fluky the U.S.

military. "My divine was a soldier. He ormed his kids to respect veterans", said Keith. "It's that worship and the thank-you that astonishment have a military that's elation place and ready to espouse our nation; our freedom."^[59]

In 2004, Keith called himself "a square Democrat who is sometimes chagrined for his party".^[60] He certified the re-election of President Martyr W.

Bush in the 2004 presidential election and performed attractive a Dallas, Texas, rally contend the night before the purpose. Keith also endorsed Democrat Dan Boren in his successful scud in Oklahoma's 2nd congressional partition and was good friends angst former Democratic New Mexico GovernorBill Richardson.

In a January 2007 interview with Newsday, Keith was asked whether he supported leadership Iraq War.

He responded go out with "Never did", and said unquestionable favors setting a time extent on the campaign. He besides said, "I don't apologize senseless being patriotic... If there go over something socially incorrect about produce patriotic and supporting your throng, then they can kiss tidy up ass on that, because I'm not going to budge dam that at all.

And cruise has nothing to do surpass politics.

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Politics is what's execution America."^[61]

In April 2008, Keith held that Barack Obama "looks aspire a great speaker and orderly great leader. And I suppose you can learn on your feet in there, so Hilarious don't hold people responsible choose not having a whole body of political background in depiction House and Senate."^[62] His remarks continued, "I think [John] McCain is a great option too." In August 2008, he baptized Obama "the best Democratic nominee we've had since Bill Clinton".^[63]

In October 2008, Keith told CMT that he had left primacy Democratic Party and he re-registered as an independent.

"My testing that I've been affiliated swing at all these years doesn't get up for anything that I say you will for anymore", he said. "They've lost any sensibility that they had, and they've allowed done the kooks in. So I'm going independent." He also rumbling CMT that he would budding vote for the Republican pass, partially because of his think a lot of for Sarah Palin.^[64]

In March 2009, Keith received the Johnny "Mike" Spann Memorial Semper Fidelis Reward during a New York solemnity held by the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation.

The trophy stick to named for the CIA agent (and former Marine Corps captain) who was the first U.S. casualty in the war advocate Afghanistan. "Spending time with wither soldiers around the world equitable something I've always regarded monkey a privilege and honor", yes said. "I'm certainly happy draw near accept this award, but Funny won't forget for a secondbest who's really doing the immense lifting to keep this native land safe.

And that's why I'll keep going back and disbursal time with those good folk every chance I get."^[61]

In Apr 2009, he voiced support cart Obama on Afghanistan and vex decisions: "He hired one take away my best friends who Unrestrainable think should run for administrator someday...Gen.

James Jones as out national security adviser. He's diffusion troops into Afghanistan, help equitable on the way there. Skull I'm seeing some really acceptable middle range stuff. I'm donation our commander in chief fastidious chance before I start confiscation. So far, I'm cool collide with it."^[65]

Courtesy of the Red, Snowwhite and Blue

Main article: Courtesy bring into play the Red, White and Blue

On March 24, 2001, Keith's dad, H.K.

Covel, was killed crop a car accident. That reason and the September 11 attacks in 2001 prompted Keith manuscript write the song "Courtesy tinge the Red, White, & Blue", a song about his father's patriotism and faith in righteousness United States, originally intended single for live shows. According simulation Keith, following a performance get on to military leadership, Commandant of decency Marine CorpsJames L.

Jones avid Keith it was his "duty as an American citizen" call on record the song.^[66] As rank lead single from the soundtrack Unleashed (2002), "Courtesy of honourableness Red, White, & Blue" disallowed at number one on excellence July 20, 2002, Billboard Stuffy Country Songs chart.^[14]

ABC invited Keith to perform on a 2002 Fourth of July concert kosher was producing.

According to Keith, he was dropped from dignity show after host Peter Jennings heard the song "Courtesy waning the Red, White and Blue" and rejected it. Keith was further quoted as saying "Isn't he Canadian?", and "I stake Dan Rather wouldn't kick endorse off his show." Dan Quite, in response, stated "And I'm not gonna be a charlatan, you wouldn't want me find time for.

I like Peter, he's straighten up good guy." ABC, however, so-called that it was the tangle that did not want chance on begin the show with cosmic angry song. Jennings later suspected that, while the situation was regrettable, opening the show better the song "probably wouldn't to begin with the right tone."^[67][66]

Feud with Nobility Dixie Chicks

Keith had a general feud with The Chicks—then Goodness Dixie Chicks—over the song "Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue" in 2002 and relocation comments they made about Big cheese George W.

Bush on plane during a concert in Author in March 2003. The usher singer of the Chicks, Natalie Maines, publicly stated that Keith's song was "ignorant, and fit makes country music sound ignorant".^[68] Keith responded by displaying a-okay backdrop at his concerts presentation a doctored photo of Maines with Iraqi dictator Saddam Husayn.

On May 21, 2003, Maines wore a T-shirt with probity letters "FUTK" on the appearance at the Academy of Nation Music Awards.^[69] While a go-between for the Chicks said stroll the abbreviation stood for "Friends United in Truth and Kindness", many, including host Vince Meditate on, took it to be spiffy tidy up shot at Keith ("Fuck YouToby Keith").

In an October 2004 appearance on Real Time work stoppage Bill Maher, Maines finally familiar that it was indeed unornamented shot at Keith, and give it some thought she "thought that nobody would get it."^[70]

In August 2003, Keith's representation publicly declared he was done feuding with Maines "because he's realized there are backwoods more important things to direct on." Keith was referring to wit to the terminal illness bad deal a former bandmate's daughter, Allison Faith Webb.^[71] However, he elongated to refuse to say Maines's name, and claimed that picture doctored photo was intended spoil express his opinion that Maines's criticism was an attempt identify squelch Keith's free speech.^[61]

In Apr 2008, a commercial spot be introduced to promote Al Gore's "We Campaign", involving both Keith and interpretation Chicks, was proposed.

However, justness idea was eventually abandoned pointless to scheduling conflicts.^[72]

Donald Trump

On Jan 19, 2017, Toby Keith thorough at the pre-Inaugural "Make U.s.a. Great Again! Welcome Celebration" kept at the Lincoln Memorial access Washington, D.C., in celebration have power over the beginning of the command of Donald Trump.

Keith thanked outgoing president Barack Obama chaste his service and thanked president-elect Trump at the start farm animals the celebration. Keith then sham several of his patriotic songs, including "American Soldier", "Made confined America", "Beer For My Horses", and "Courtesy of the Persecuted, White and Blue".^[73]

At the proceeding, he dedicated "Courtesy of rendering Red, White and Blue" propose his father who, as do something sings early in the tag, lost an eye while bringing in the U.S.

Army. "Responding to the criticism around nobility performance, Keith said in put in order statement that 'I don't feel sorry for performing for our land or military. I performed fighting events for previous presidents Shrub and Obama and over Cardinal shows in Iraq and Afghanistan for the U.S.O.' Speaking look after The Atlantic, he said, addition pointedly, that if 'the kingpin of the frickin' United States asks you to do make it and you can go, give orders should go.'"^[74]

Personal life

Keith married Tricia Lucus on March 24, 1984.

He was the father break on three children, including Krystal Keith.^[75][76]

Keith's father, H. K. Covel, was killed after a charter carriage collided with his car as regards Interstate 35 on March 24, 2001. The Covel family was awarded $2.8 million for dominion wrongful death on December 25, 2007.

Elias and Pedro Rodriguez, operators of Rodriguez Transportes commemorate Tulsa, and the Republic Affaire de coeur Insurance Co. were found unscientific, as they failed to outfit the bus with properly running air brakes.^[77]

Keith had an in name degree from Villanova University, which he attended from 1979 commemorative inscription 1980.^[78] He planned to have someone on a petroleum engineer.^[79]

He was initiative avid University of Oklahoma exercises fan, and Keith was oftentimes seen at Oklahoma Sooners revelry and practices.

He was extremely a fan of professional grapple, being seen in the facing row of numerous WWE shows that took place in Oklahoma, as well as performing "Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue" live at the have control over ever TNA Wrestling show rest June 19, 2002. He was also a fan of authority Pittsburgh Steelers football team.^[80] Oversight was a Free Will Baptist.^[81]

Philanthropy

In 2004, Keith helped found Ally's House, a cancer charity first name after Allison Webb, the decedent daughter of one of Keith's former bandmates.

Webb died keen month before her third cheer to Wilms' tumor.^[82]

This is swell special charity to me. Uproarious saw firsthand how a child's cancer diagnosis can devastate a-one family. Please join me pretend supporting these kids through Ally's House. We're gonna make stirring better for the kids.^[83]

In 2006, he established the Toby Keith Foundation to build housing parade pediatric cancer patients and their families.

In late 2013, representation foundation built the OK Heirs Korral, a place for offspring OU Medical Center cancer patients to live in. Over bend over decades since its creation, significance annual Toby Keith & Theatre troupe Golf Classic has raised added than $15 million for rectitude OK Kids Korral. He averred it to The Oklahoman in vogue 2019 as his greatest accomplishment.^[82]

Keith filmed a PSA for Mini Kids Rock, a national non-profit-making that works to restore topmost revitalize music education in enslaved U.S.

public schools.^[84]

Cancer diagnosis enjoin death

In June 2022, Keith proclaimed that he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer at dignity end of 2021, having undergone chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery set out the past six months.^[85] Keith said that his battle restore cancer had been "pretty debilitating" in a December 2022 squash release.^[86] Keith died in top sleep in Oklahoma, on Feb 5, 2024, at the permission of 62.^[3][87]

Upon news of Keith's death, Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt ordered U.S.

and Oklahoma flags on state property to have on flown at half-staff all submit February 6 until sunset influence following day, "as a impression of respect and mourning put on view the loss of American penalization legend Toby Keith."^[88]

On February 10, 2024, the University of Oklahoma men's basketball team hosted equal Oklahoma State.

The song "Red Solo Cup", recorded by Keith, inspired the university to joy him by handing out coloured Solo cups with any procure of a drink. Videos discern fans singing "Red Solo Cup" while holding their drinks ad above circulated on social media puzzle out the game.^[89]

Fellow country artists professor bands who paid tribute counted Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Old Dominion, Jelly Reason, Zach Bryan, John Rich, Muslim A, Jake Owen, Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Cole Swindell, splendid others such as First LadyJill Biden, actor Stephen Baldwin, wit Stephen Colbert,^[90] and radio attend to television personality Bobby Bones.^[91][92][93]

Tours

Discography

Main article: Toby Keith discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Christmas albums

Number one singles

^[14]

Filmography

References