Toby Keith tributes: Country music world grieves singer after he died ‘surrounded by family’
Country singer hailed as ‘true American patriot’ by controversial news pundit Tomi Lahren, as fans praise hit songs including ‘Red Solo Cup’ and ‘Should’ve Been a Cowboy’
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Tributes poured in for country music star Toby Keith, who has died aged 62.
Keith died of stomach cancer on Monday (5 February) surrounded by his family, who said in a statement: “He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”
The musician, who sold more than 40 million records throughout his career, was best known for the songs “Red Solo Cup”, “I Wanna Talk About Me” and the controversial “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue”.
He performed for US presidents including George W Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump, and was as much known for his public sparring with fellow celebrities as he was for his distinctly patriotic songs.
His final shows took place over the weekend, with Keith sharing video footage to his official Instagram page.
“And that’s a wrap on the weekend, y’all,” he wrote. “Back to it.”
Carrie Underwood honours Toby Keith with throwback photo
Carrie Underwood has posted a heartwarming Instagram Post in honour of Toby Keith, whose recent death has been felt across the country music world and beyond.
Immediately following the news of Keith’s death, the 40-year-old “Before He Cheats” singer honoured the country music legend writing: “Saddle up the horses, Jesus, ‘cause a true blue COWBOY just made his ride up to heaven!!!
“Introduce him to all the Okies and sign that boy up for the choir! We’re gonna miss you, Toby, but my heart has no doubt that you are standing in the presence of our King right now!!! See you again someday, friend,” Underwood added.
She included a carousel of photos of her and Keith at the 2022 BMI Country Awards, as well as a photo (presumably) of the first time they met years ago.
Video: Toby Keith reflects on the first song he ever wrote
In a recently shared video, Keith reflected on one of the first songs he ever wrote, aged 14.
“The first song I ever wrote, I was 14 or 15 years old, it was called ‘If You Had an Out of Heartache”, it wasn’t bad, it was structured right, but it weren’t very good either.
“But the people round here, when I played it, they were like, ‘Wow, that’s a great song.’ It’s just a song, that was 5,000 songs ago.”
Toby Keith’s final Instagram post showed him playing a raucous live show
The day before his death, Keith posted a video from his final live show.
“And that’s a wrap on the weekend, y’all. Back to it,” the country singer wrote in the caption.
Toby Keith’s early beginnings as a musician
After working in the oil fields then a stint playing semi-pro American football, Keith launched his career as a singer in the late Seventies and Eighties, playing with his band around the red dirt roadhouse circuit in Oklahoma and Texas.
He ended up in Nashville, where he caught the interest of Mercury Records executive Harold Shedd, then best known for producing the hit group Alabama. Keith released his debut self-titled album, Toby Keith, with the label in 1993.
With his macho, pro-American swagger, booming voice and simple but catchy songs, Keith achieved success with hits including his breakthrough song, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy”, which became the most-played country song of the Nineties.
During this time, Keith became known for public clashes with celebrities and an unwillingness to have his rough edges smoothed over by record executives.
He also pushed back against what he perceived as an attempt to get him to cross over into pop music, as his label enjoyed similar success with country-pop queen Shania Twain.
“They were trying to get me to compromise, and I was living a miserable existence,” Keith told the AP. “Everybody was trying to mold me into something I was not.”
Kristin Chenoweth honours ‘fellow Okie’ Toby Keith
Kristin Chenoweth has paid tribute to her fellow Oklahoma country star Keith on Instagram.
Alongside a photo of Chenoweth standing on stage beside Keith and Trace Adkins, the Broadway star wrote: “My fellow Okie. You’re so loved, Toby. We will all miss you so terribly. Dad and I sure did love seeing you on the field at the OU games. Rest easy - you fought a hell of a battle.”
Toby Keith’s very public feud with The Chicks
Toby Keith’s song “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” peaked at No 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart upon its release in 2002, and continues to enjoy huge success today.
However, it was also the subject of negative reactions from his country music peers, including the legendary singer-songwriter Steve Earle, who accused the song of “pandering to people’s worst instincts at a time they are hurt and scared.”
The Chicks singer Natalie Maines branded it “ignorant”.
In response, Keith (already incensed by Maines’ infamous remark about how the band were ashamed of then-President George W Bush over the imminent invasion of Iraq) performed in front of a doctored photo of her with Saddam Hussein.
Maines then wore a homemade T-shirt reading “FUTK” on stage at the 2003 ACM Awards. While the band insisted at the time that it stood for, “Friends United Together in Kindness”, most believed that it was an acronym for: “F*** You Toby Keith.”
Maines later admitted this was the case in the band’s 2006 documentary, Shut Up & Sing.
Keith reportedly said he was later “embarrassed” by his part in the spat.
Jason Aldean mourns the loss of Toby Keith
“Just waking up to the news of Toby Keith’s passing,” Aldean wrote on Instagram. “Today is a sad day for Country music and its fans. Toby was a huge presence in our business and someone we all looked up to and respected. You and your music will be forever remembered big man.”
Randy Houser sings Toby Keith song in honour of ‘American icon'
“An American icon. They do not make em like him everyday in my opinion,” Houser wrote on Instagram. “One of my favourites that he and @Scottyemerick wrote,” he added, beside a video of him covering Keith’s 2003 song “I Love This Bar”.
“It’s late at night or early in the morning but I wanted to sing one in his honour no matter what time it is. Rest In Peace. Job well done,” the “How Country Feels” singer posted.
Was Toby Keith married?
Keith is survived by Tricia Lucus, his wife of 40 years, their three children and four grandchildren.
She told People in 2001 that they met in a bar: “I was 19 and he was 20. He was just one of those larger-than-life guys, full of confidence,” she said.
The couple dated for three years before deciding to get married.
They shared three children together, daughters Shelly Covel Rowland (born in 1980 and adopted by Keith when he married Lucas), and Krystal LaDawn Covel Sandubrae (also a country singer), and son Stelen Keith Covel. Keith also had four grandchildren.
He shared a photo of him and the family together at Christmas last year:
The story behind ‘Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue’
Keith was known for wearing his politics on his sleeve, particularly after 9/11. Previously describing himself as a conservative Democrat, he later claimed to be an independent, playing at events for US presidents George W Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump.
Written after the death of his father, HK Kovel, in a car crash, and in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” is distinctly pro-American and issues a threat to anyone who tries to mess with it.
Melodically similar to “American Pie” by Don McLean”, the song included the lyrics: “Justice will be served and the battle will rage/ This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage/ And you’ll be sorry that you messed with/ The US of A/ ‘Cause we’ll put a boot in your ass/ It’s the American way.”
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