Luke Bryan Praises Toby Keith’s Unwavering Dedication To The Military: ‘He Was Just A Bada**’ [Exclusive]

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.  

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“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.