Luke Bryan Praises Toby Keith’s Unwavering Dedication To The Military: ‘He Was Just A Bada**’ [Exclusive]
The superstar also shared memories of exchanging jokes with the late country music icon and admitted, “he’s just gone too soon.”
Luke Bryan; Photos by: Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for Universal Music Group
Luke Bryan reflected on his memories of the late Toby Keith and shared how much he admired his larger-than-life personality ahead of his tribute performance on NBC’s Toby Keith: American Icon special.
While Bryan didn’t have the chance to often share one-on-one moments with Keith, he said he cherished the times they spent together.
“As far as sitting around by a fire playing music with Toby, I never really got to do that. I saw him at a lot of events,” Bryan explained to Country Now.
The “Love You, Miss You, Mean It” singer told us that he and Toby Keith would often cross paths at various events and one particular night at Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium sticks out to him.
“Toby, he had his circle of friends and I know all those guys. I got to hang with Toby backstage at the Ryman a couple of years ago and tell some jokes. He always had the funniest jokes and the best stories,” Bryan recalled. “And he was a true country music personality. He walked in the room, you knew he was in the room.”
The Georiga native went on to compliment Keith for always allowing his music to tell the story of “where he was at in his life” and praised his ongoing commitment and dedication to the United States armed forces.
@countrynow.com @Luke Bryan remembers @Toby Keith ♬ original sound – CountryNow.com
“I mean, when you look at the height of his career, he’s literally spending all of his time overseas dedicating so much of that time to the military and the men and women of all the armed forces. And I mean, listen, I know people that were on those trips and singing in the desert is not fun. Toby was riding helicopters and doing multiple shows a day and he was just a bada**,” he shared.
Like many artists, fans, and members of the country music community, Bryan was shaken by Keith’s passing and truly felt like he had so much more to give the world.
“To see him before his diagnosis, he was always kind of a big guy like me, and you just never imagined he would be gone so soon. Tonight’s about honoring his legacy…he’s just gone too soon from us and he had a lot more to give.”
For his performance, Bryan had the opportunity to perform Keith’s iconic debut hit, “Should’ve Been A Cowboy.”
“It’s going to be good,” Bryan teased. “Well, what’s funny is they called me and then some artists had taken some songs and I was like, ‘Is ‘Should’ve Been a Cowboy’ still available?’ And they were like, ‘Yeah.’ I was like, ‘There’s no practice needed for that one! I know that one.’”
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, Eric Church, Jordan Davis, Scotty Emerick, Brantley Gilbert, Riley Green, HARDY, 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 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 will share their stories of receiving vital care and support during their most challenging times.
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 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.
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.
You may also like
Country Next
Playlist
On Repeat
Get the latest country music news delivered straight to your inbox.
