Toby Keith: A Country Music Legend

Who is Toby Keith ?

Introduction

Toby Keith Covel was a renowned American musician who made a name for himself in the country music scene. He was born on July 8, 1961, in Clinton, Oklahoma, and died on February 5, 2024, from stomach cancer. He had a long and prolific career that spanned over three decades, during which he released 20 studio albums and 67 singles.

He was one of the best-selling and most influential country music artists of all time, with more than 40 million albums sold worldwide and 61 songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, including 20 number one hits. He also received numerous awards and honors for his musical achievements, such as two Academy of Country Music entertainer of the year awards, four American Music Awards, a Billboard Music Award, and a National Medal of Arts.

He was not only a singer and songwriter, but also an actor and a record producer. He appeared in several films, such as Broken Bridges (2006) and Beer for My Horses (2008), and founded his own record label, Show Dog Nashville, in 2005. He was also a philanthropist who supported various causes, such as the Toby Keith Foundation, which helps children with cancer.

He was also known for his outspoken patriotism and support for the US military, especially after the 9/11 attacks. He wrote and performed songs that expressed his love for his country and his admiration for the troops, such as “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)”, “American Soldier”, and “Made in America”. He also performed for the USO and visited military bases around the world.

He was also known for his controversial and humorous songs that tackled topics such as politics, justice, drinking, and romance. He often used satire, irony, and sarcasm to make his point and to entertain his fans. Some of his most famous songs in this category are “Beer for My Horses”, “Red Solo Cup”, “I Wanna Talk About Me”, and “How Do You Like Me Now?!”.

Early life and musical influences

Toby Keith Covel was born on July 8, 1961, in Clinton, Oklahoma, a small town in the western part of the state. He was the second of three children of Hubert Keith Covel, a Ford employee, and Carolyn Joan Ross, a waitress. He had a sister, Tonnie, and a brother, Tracy.

He grew up in Moore, Oklahoma, a suburb of Oklahoma City. He attended Highland West Junior High School and Moore High School, where he played football and basketball. He also developed an interest in music from an early age, thanks to his grandmother, Elizabeth “Billie” Garner Covel. She was a musician who played various instruments, such as guitar, harmonica, and banjo. She taught Toby how to play guitar when he was eight years old and encouraged him to pursue his musical talent.

He was influenced by various musical genres and artists, but especially by country music. He listened to country singers like Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash, who inspired him with their storytelling skills and authentic voices. He also admired rock bands like The Rolling Stones and Lynyrd Skynyrd, who blended rock and country elements and created a distinctive sound. He learned to play their songs by ear and started to write his own songs as well.

Musical career

Toby Keith started his musical career in 1984 with his band Easy Money, performing in local bars and clubs in Oklahoma. He moved to Nashville in 1990 to pursue his dream of becoming a country music star. He signed with Mercury Records in 1992 and released his self-titled debut album in 1993, which spawned his first hit single, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy”. He followed it with three more albums for Mercury, each one more successful than the previous one.

He switched to DreamWorks Records in 1998 and released How Do You Like Me Now?! in 1999, which was his breakthrough album. It featured the title track, which became his signature song and a number one hit on the country charts. He also won several awards for this album, such as the Academy of Country Music entertainer of the year award and the Billboard Music Award for country artist of the year. He continued to release successful albums and singles throughout the 2000s and 2010s, establishing himself as one of the most popular and influential country music artists of his generation.

He also ventured into other fields, such as acting and record producing. He appeared in several films, such as Broken Bridges (2006) and Beer for My Horses (2008), both of which he also co-produced and co-wrote the soundtrack for. He also founded his own record label, Show Dog Nashville, in 2005, which later merged with Universal South Records to form Show Dog-Universal Music. He signed and supported several artists on his label, such as Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols, Krystal Keith, and Colt Ford.

Musical style and themes

Keith’s musical style was described as “hard-driving contemporary country” with elements of rock, pop, and honky-tonk. He was known for his patriotic and controversial songs, such as “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)”, which was a response to the 9/11 attacks, “Beer for My Horses”, which advocated vigilante justice, and “Red Solo Cup”, which celebrated drinking culture. He also wrote songs about love, heartbreak, family, faith, and humor. He was praised for his storytelling skills, catchy melodies, and charismatic vocals. He was criticized by some for his political views, musical quality, and image.

Awards and honors

Toby Keith’s musical style was a blend of different genres and influences. He combined “hard-driving contemporary country” with elements of rock, pop, and honky-tonk, creating a distinctive and versatile sound. He also experimented with rap, reggae, and bluegrass in some of his songs. He was influenced by country legends like Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash, as well as rock bands like The Rolling Stones and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

He was known for his patriotic and controversial songs, which often sparked debate and controversy. He wrote songs that expressed his love for his country and his support for the US military, such as “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)”, which was a response to the 9/11 attacks, and “American Soldier”, which was a tribute to the troops.

He also wrote songs that tackled topics such as politics, justice, drinking, and romance, using satire, irony, and sarcasm to make his point and to entertain his fans. Some of his most famous songs in this category are “Beer for My Horses”, which advocated vigilante justice, “Red Solo Cup”, which celebrated drinking culture, and “I Wanna Talk About Me”, which mocked male narcissism.

He also wrote songs about love, heartbreak, family, faith, and humor. He showed his softer and more sentimental side in songs like “You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like This”, “He Ain’t Worth Missing”, “Who’s Your Daddy?”, and “God Love Her”.

He also wrote songs that reflected his personal life and experiences, such as “How Do You Like Me Now?!”, which was about his high school crush who rejected him, “Cryin’ for Me (Wayman’s Song)”, which was a tribute to his friend and basketball player Wayman Tisdale who died of cancer, and “Don’t Let the Old Man In”, which was inspired by a conversation he had with Clint Eastwood. He was praised for his storytelling skills, catchy melodies, and charismatic vocals. He was criticized by some for his political views, musical quality, and image.

Personal life and death

Toby Keith had a happy and stable family life. He was married to Tricia Lucus since 1984, whom he met at a nightclub in Oklahoma City. They had three children: Shelley, who was adopted by Keith from Tricia’s previous marriage, Krystal, who followed her father’s footsteps and became a country singer, and Stelen, who was born in 1997. He also had several grandchildren, whom he adored and spoiled.

He was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2022, after experiencing severe abdominal pain and weight loss. He underwent surgery and chemotherapy, but the cancer was too advanced and aggressive. He died on February 5, 2024, at the age of 62, surrounded by his family and friends. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered in his ranch in Oklahoma.

He was hailed as a “true American patriot” by some fans and celebrities, who admired his courage, honesty, and generosity. He received tributes from fellow country stars like Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, and Blake Shelton, as well as from politicians like Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and Mike Pence.

He also received condolences from former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, who thanked him for his support for the US military. He was also criticized by others for his political views and musical style, who accused him of being racist, sexist, homophobic, and vulgar. He was denounced by some critics like Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks, who famously feuded with him over the Iraq War, and Eminem, who parodied him in his song “Square Dance”.

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