Rest in Peace Toby Keith
I grew up listening to Toby Keith thanks to my parents and their love of country music. He had a remarkable ability to sing about unserious topics in songs like “Red Solo Cup” and “Who’s Your Daddy?” He’s the singer of songs that you just have to turn up when you hear the first note (Ex: “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “I Wanna Talk About Me,” “As Good As I Once Was,” and “How Do You Like Me Now?!”). He also sang my favorite rendition of “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.”
He had 77 nominations across the Grammy, Kids’ Choice, People’s Choice, ACM, CMA, and AMA awards, and won twelve ACM awards, three CMA awards, and three AMA awards. He was honored with the Spirit of the USO Award in 2014.
He was unapologetically American. He held a deep respect for service members and their families and the sacrifices they make, and he showed it in word, song, and action.
He allowed copies of “American Soldier” to be made and sent to the wives and families of soldiers. Read more from a personal account here.
He reunited a woman with her husband, Major Pete Cruz, who had been in Afghanistan.
He toured with the USO to provide entertainment to American soldiers, traveling to over seventeen countries. I’ve linked three articles on his time with the USO at the end of this post.
He had a sense of humor, but he sang about serious topics with passion and conviction. The following is a quote of him explaining what inspired him to write “American Soldier”:
"“Having to fly with a flag-draped casket, it’s such a reality check … it bores into your soul,” he described of writing the song alongside the four caskets as the tour left Iraq in 2004. “All these people … they’re a father, and a mother, and a brother and a sister. When you watch it on TV, it’s the same uniform, same helmet, same gun, same backpack, same sunglasses, same boots, cover, everything, But each one of those souls is somebody, to somebody - to a family, to an office, to a construction crew. They belong back home. This is a job. If we’re not at war, there are still being trained and on the alert, ready to go at the drop of hat. So, that’s what I wrote 'American Soldier’ for, it’s a tribute. I’d never have completed the song as well as it’s written if I hadn’t had experiences over here”" (Mitchell, 2009).
He showed what true philanthropy looks like: to give one’s time and money wholeheartedly. “Toby made time for every soldier, sailor, Marine, and airman he met” (Mitchell, 2009).
He established the Toby Keith Foundation which helps provide cost-free lodging for pediatric cancer patients during treatment.
He organized “The Twister Relief Concert” to benefit the victims of the 2013 Moore tornado.
It’s a beautiful thing when someone uses their God-given talent to serve and to serve well. Keith is survived by his wife Tricia Lucus, and three children: Shelley Covel Rowland, Krystal Keith, and Stelen Keith Covel.
Rest in peace Toby Keith. What a beautiful impact you made, what a legacy you leave behind.
USO Articles:
The USO <3s Toby Keith. (2011). USO. https://www.uso.org/stories/971-the-uso-3s-toby-keith
Mitchell, A.K. (2009). FOB hopping with Toby Keith. USO. https://www.uso.org/stories/1934-fob-hopping-with-toby-keith
Quigley, S.L. (2014). Toby Keith recognized for USO service. USO. https://www.uso.org/stories/278-toby-keith-recognized-for-uso-service