Brantley Gilbert Reflects On Toby Keith’s Legacy: ‘A Set Of Boots That Won’t Ever Be Filled’ [Exclusive]
Gilbert will honor Keith during NBC’s ‘Toby Keith: American Icon,’ airing Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Brantley Gilbert performs onstage at Bridgestone Arena on July 29, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee; Photo by: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Universal Music Group
Brantley Gilbert is just one of several country music superstars stepping up to honor the late Toby Keith during the upcoming NBC special, Toby Keith: American Icon.
The Georgia native, who was lucky enough to tour with Keith in the early days of his career, reflected on his time on the road with the legendary singer/songwriter while chatting with Country Now. He shared how Keith’s touring crew was a true reflection of the kind of man he was, and pointed out that it’s something you don’t see too often.
“We played several events together… Man, it was a good match. Our crews got along, our bands got along, and Toby, that crew and that camp as a whole, what you saw them, I mean, there’s guys that have been there for 20, 30 years and not just one or two. You got a crew full of those guys that have been there. You don’t see that,” he shared. “And you could also tell that it was led from the top. And the more you got to know him, the more all of it made sense. The more everything around him made sense.”
Gilbert later declared, “Those are just a set of boots that won’t ever be filled. He was a giant amongst men in so many ways and it was an honor mine to know him, let alone call him a friend.”
According to the “Bottoms Up” singer, one thing he particularly admired about Keith was his unwavering commitment to his beliefs.
“I hope a lot of these younger artists are paying attention. I think tonight, I hope this isn’t the last time that we pay tribute to this man, because Toby to me showed everybody that it was all right to do you and to do it unapologetically. But to do that you had to be a person of substance. You had to be somebody worth following. And man, I mean, there was nobody better at that,” he pointed out. “I can’t say that there was anything that Toby stood behind that I couldn’t get behind. And for somebody to be able to be unapologetic about who they are, especially in this day and age, man, it is worth its way gold. He was a legend and is a legend and will always be a legend for a reason.”
During Wednesday evening’s broadcast, fans will have the chance to witness Gilbert teaming up with HARDY to perform Toby Keith’s iconic hit, “How Do You Like Me Now.” Gilbert said he was excited “to get up there and rock a little bit.”
Filmed in front of a live, sold-out audience at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on July 29, Toby Keith: American Icon will also feature performances by Trace Adkins, Priscilla Block, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Jordan Davis, Scotty Emerick, Riley Green, Tyler Hubbard, Jamey Johnson, Krystal Keith, Ella Langley, Mac McAnally, Ashley McBryde, Parker McCollum, Leanne Morgan, Jelly Roll, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Clay Walker, and Lainey Wilson.
Keith’s compassion and philanthropy will be showcased throughout the special, which supported Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and The Toby Keith Foundation’s OK Kids Korral. Families from both organizations will share their experiences of receiving essential care and support during their toughest moments.
The two-hour special, showcasing musical tributes, personal stories, and highlights from Toby Keith‘s remarkable career, will air on Wednesday, August 28 at 9 pm ET/PT on NBC, with streaming available the following day on Peacock.
With 32 No.1 singles and 40 million albums sold, Toby Keith is regarded as one of country music’s biggest hitmakers. He wrote a chart-topping hit every year for 20 consecutive years, including “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue (The Angry American),” “I Love This Bar,” “Beer For My Horses,” and “As Good As I Once Was.”
He has received the National Medal of Arts, been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (following his induction into the all-genre Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015), and has been honored with the Academy of Country Music’s esteemed Merle Haggard Spirit Award.
Throughout his career, the Oklahoma native has been honored with the BMI Icon Award, won the BMI Country Songwriter of the Year award three times, and saw his hit single “As Good As I Once Was” named BMI’s Country Song of the Year in 2006.
His music has garnered more than 10 billion streams and 100 million terrestrial radio spins to date.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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