Eric Church Credits Toby Keith for Launching His Career During Tribute Performance of ‘As Good As I Once Was’

On Wednesday’s two-hour NBC special, Toby Keith: American Icon, Eric Church paid tribute to Toby Keith with a performance of “As Good As I Once Was.” Before taking the stage, Church shared a deeply personal story about how a generous gesture from the country music legend significantly impacted his career forever. 

While standing on the Bridgestone Arena stage, Church told the sold-out crowd, “Let me take you back in time to about 15 years ago.”

He reminisced about the early days of his career when he was struggling to gain traction in the touring scene.

“I was starting my career, and we were having a hard time getting anybody in country music to let us come play shows with them. Toby Keith was the guy that called and said, ‘Hey, why don’t you come play shows with me?,’” Church explained. 

The North Carolina native credits Keith’s invitation as the launching pad for his career. 

“There is no way I’m standing here today if it wasn’t for Toby Keith. I think about that now, and I think about when that would’ve been—this would’ve been 15 years ago. I’m now 47, and he would’ve been my age at that time when he called me,” he said. “And this next song, I think of a lot. I have two young boys. I may think of it a lot tonight as I try to wander down to Broadway like I shouldn’t do. And I can promise you this: I’m not as good as I once was. But tonight, tonight I’m gonna be.” 

With his acoustic guitar in hand, Church went on to sing Keith’s chart-topping hit, “As Good As I Once Was. The song was written by Keith with Scotty Emerick, who was also in the building to honor Keith that night. 

The song, which become of of Keith’s signature hits as it blends humor with a real-life story about aging, was released in May 2005 as the second single from Keith’s Honkytonk University album. 

Church kept his version close to the original as he sang, “I ain’t as good as I once was/ I got a few years on me now/ But there was a time, back in my prime/ When I could really lay it down/ If you need some love tonight/ Then I might have just enough/ I ain’t as good as I once was, but/ I’m as good once/ As I ever was.” 

The audience could be heard singing a long to each and every word. 

Eric Church was just one of the country superstars who dropped everything to honor the late Toby Keith. The two-hour special also included performances and special appearances from Trace Adkins, Priscilla Block, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Jordan Davis, Scotty Emerick, Brett Favre, Brantley Gilbert, Riley Green, HARDY, Tyler Hubbard, Jamey Johnson, Krystal Keith, Ella Langley, Mac McAnally, Ashley McBryde, Parker McCollum, Leanne Morgan, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Clay Walker, and Lainey Wilson. 

In addition to an array of musical performances spotlighting Keith’s incredible music and songwriter, Keith’s compassion and philanthropy were also highlighted throughout the special as the event supported Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and The Toby Keith Foundation’s OK Kids Korral. Families from both organizations appeared to share their stories of receiving vital care and support during their most challenging times.

Toby Keith: American Icon aired on Wednesday, August 28 at 9 pm ET/PT on NBC. The show will be available to stream the following day on Peacock.

Country music legend Toby Keith passed away on February 5, 2024, following a battle with stomach cancer. Throughout his career, he earned an impressive 32 No.1 singles and sold a whopping 40 million albums. 

It’s no surprise that he is regarded as one of country music’s biggest hitmakers after earning 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 is a recipient of the National Medal of Arts, he’s 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 received the BMI Icon Award as well as the BMI Country Songwriter of the Year award three times, and his hit single “As Good As I Once Was” was awarded BMI’s Country Song of the Year in 2006.

Toby Keith’s music has garnered more than 10 billion streams and 100 million terrestrial radio spins to date.