New Oklahoma Bill Aims to Memorialize Toby Keith Through Renaming Of Bridges and Parkway

A new bill has been introduced in Oklahoma, which would permanently honor the legacy of late country music icon Toby Keith across several key roadways in his home state. Nearly two years after his passing, new and meaningful efforts continue to honor the impact he left behind.

KSWO-TV reports that Oklahoma State Senator Lisa Standridge (R-Norman) has introduced Senate Bill 1475, proposing that the bridge over Interstate 35 at Indian Hills Road be renamed the Toby Keith Memorial Bridge. If the bridge is ever rebuilt or expanded in the same location, the bill specifies it would be renamed the Toby Keith Memorial Interchange.

Additionally, the legislature proposes naming a potential future road connecting Indian Hills Road to I-35 and Interstate 44 the Toby Keith Parkway, with a Canadian River bridge along that route being called the Should’ve Been a Cowboy Bridge, in honor of Keith’s first breakout hit.

SB 1475 would not only rename the infrastructure, but also open the door for private citizens to help fund artwork for any of the new bridges or interchanges along the proposed Toby Keith Parkway. This idea would give Keith’s family the option to commission pieces that celebrate his life and contributions to music on a huge scale that would be seen by so many.

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The Oklahoma State Senator shared that while the design details would ultimately be up to the Keith family, she envisions a powerful tribute that captures the singer’s iconic image and patriotic spirit, creating a lasting landmark for fans and residents alike.

“I would defer completely to the family that has lived in my district for many years, but personally, I can picture a profile rendering of Toby in his hat, with a guitar in his hands, framed by an American flag,” Standridge said.

The bill will be eligible for consideration when the Oklahoma Legislature convenes Feb. 2.

This news comes nearly two years after Toby Keith passed away on February 5, 2024, following a more than two-year battle with stomach cancer. He is survived by his wife, Tricia Lucus, his children, Krystal, Shelley, and Stelen and his four grandchildren, including his newest, Millie Brooks, who was born to Stelen and his wife Haley back in August.

His family continues to celebrate his incredible legacy, both through his philanthropic work with the OK Kids Korral and his honorable career as a singer, songwriter, and performer.

Toby Keith achieved 32 No. 1 singles, sold 40 million albums, and amassed over 10 billion streams and 100 million terrestrial radio spins. He scored a chart-topping hit every year for 20 consecutive years and earned countless accolades, including the National Medal of Arts, induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the all-genre Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015.

The “Red Solo Cup” singer’s awards and honors didn’t stop there. His incredible contributions on the genre were further recognized when he received the Academy of Country Music’s Merle Haggard Spirit Award, the BMI Icon Award, three BMI Country Songwriter of the Year honors, and BMI’s Country Song of the Year in 2006 for his hit “As Good As I Once Was.”

Following his death, the country music community came together on July 29 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena for Toby Keith: American Icon. The event featured numerous country superstars performing his hits, while his daughter Krystal showcased her own musical talent when she delivered an emotional rendition of his ballad “Don’t Let the Old Man In.”

With SB 1475 now on the table, Oklahoma has the chance to create another lasting tribute to Toby Keith, one that ensures generations of fans and residents will see and remember the impact of an American icon every time they pass through the state he called home.