Lainey Wilson Makes Grand Entrance On Horseback For ‘Beer For My Horses’ Duet With Jamey Johnson At Toby Keith Tribute

Lainey Wilson certainly made her presence known during tonight’s two-hour Toby Keith tribute event, when she joined forces with Jamey Johnson to perform “Beer For My Horses,” an RIAA platinum-certified tune that was originally sung by Keith and Willie Nelson. 

Fans were drawn to the corner inside Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena that was opposite of the stage as Wilson was seen saddling up on a horse. She then introduced Johnson while making her way through the crowded audience on horseback. Upon reaching the stage, she dismounted and joined her friend and fellow country artist on stage. 

The GRAMMY award winner delivered the first set of lyrics while sporting a western ensemble with black denim bell bottoms, a button-up shirt with navy cuffs and a gold-studded vest. She accessorized with a gold-star bolo tie and a black cowboy hat. Johnson, who donned a simple all-black look, joined in strumming his guitar and putting his signature baritone vocals on full display.

Together they put their storytelling skills to good use and gave the crowd a rowdy performance that surely would have made Toby Keith proud. 

“That justice is the one thing you should always find/ You got to saddle up your boys, you got to draw a hard line/ When the gun smoke settles we’ll sing a victory tune/ And we’ll all meet back at the local saloon/ We’ll raise up our glasses against evil forces singing/ Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses,” Wilson and Johnson sang. 

“Beer For My Horses” was written by Keith with Scotty Emerick and released in 2003 as the fourth and final single from his seventh studio album, Unleashed. The track earned high rankings on the charts, earning Keith his 11^th No. 1 and Nelson his 23^rd.

This performance took place during the NBC special, “Toby Keith: American Icon.” The two-hour event also featured 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 got the chance to attend the show and showcase just how music of an impact the organization has had on their health journeys, including the support provided to them 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.