Introduction:
In late July, some of the biggest names gathered at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville to pay tribute to Toby Keith with a night of performances, speeches, and stories. The lineup featured artists like Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, Eric Church, Clay Walker, and many more. Unfortunately, Willie Nelson wasn’t able to make it. Instead, he shared his thoughts about Keith via a pre-recorded video.
Last night, fans who couldn’t make the tribute show in July got to watch the night unfold in a 2-hour TV special. Toby Keith: American Icon aired on NBC and is now available to stream on Peacock. The special contained several heart-wrenching moments, big performances, and plenty of laughs. Among those memorable moments was the Red-Headed Stranger’s video message remembering the late Oklahoma native.
“Toby was a good guy, good friend, and a good songwriter,” Nelson said of Keith. “He wrote ‘Beer for My Horses’ and we had a great record out on that. I just loved him a lot,” he added.
This isn’t the first time he’s paid tribute to his late “Beer for My Horses” collaborator. When Keith passed away in February, Nelson posted, “I’ve had a lot of fun singing with Toby. He’s one of us. Rest in peace, Toby,” he wrote alongside a video of them performing their collaborative No. 1 single together.
Willie Nelson Wasn’t Alone in Honoring Toby Keith
Willie Nelson was far from the only country star to honor Toby Keith during the tribute concert. Keith’s family was there to share their thoughts about the late star and the country community’s reaction to his passing. Additionally, NFL legend Brett Favre spoke about his relationship with Keith. However, the night wouldn’t be complete without good music. Several stars took the stage to sing their favorite songs from Keith’s discography.