Toby Keith Celebrates His 62nd Birthday With Jimmy Houston And A Watermelon Cake
Toby Keith’s custom cake reads, “You’re one in a melon.”
Toby Keith; Photo Courtesy Jimmy Houston, Facebook
Toby Keith rang in his 62nd birthday in style alongside National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Famer, Jimmy Houston. The pair recently enjoyed a meal together at Uncle Julio’s Mexican Restaurant in Orlando, Florida in honor of the occasion.
According to a social media post from Houston, the country superstar indulged in a Mexican dinner and topped it off with a watermelon raspberry cake.
The photo showcases the Oklahoma native sporting a smile while giving a thumbs-up to the camera. He is seen posing in front of his custom birthday cake that appears to read, “You’re one in a melon.”
“Jimmy is with Toby Keith at Uncle Julio’s Mexican Restaurant in Orlando. Happy Birthday Toby!!! Watermelon Raspberry Cake!!!” the caption reads. The comments section of the post is filled with Happy Birthday messages for the
Toby Keith was born on July 8, 1961. It’s unclear if the photo was taken on his birthday, or if this was a belated birthday celebration.
Toby Keith recently acquired Luck E Strike, a bait and tackle brand endorsed by Houston and operated by sporting goods industry vets Jeff Williams (General Manager) and Todd Hempen (Operations Manager). Luck E Strike is best known for their tackle kits, handcrafted crank baits and its Redman Spinner Bait. The latter of which was designed by Houston, who successfully used the bait for several decades and eventually led to his two 1st place finishes at the Bassmaster Classic.
Keith’s team shared the “big news” with fans via his social media on Wednesday, May 24, writing, “Toby has acquired Luck E Strike, an iconic bait and tackle brand! The company will be relaunching this summer with new products and a new look (including some red, white, and blue packaging!), so make sure you follow @luck.e.strike to stay up to date.”
Keith knew he had to help keep Luck E Strike afloat after the company had gone through some tough times in the past year. “They needed a new focus and vision, and I happened to be standing at the door ready to pick up the pieces,” Keith shared in a press release.
“I’ve got a house on a lake where they hold a lot of fishing tournaments, and I became friends with Jeff [Williams], who has built two big tackle brands,” Keith continued. “He reached out and told me Luck E Strike was for sale, and he was as interested as I am in rebuilding it.”
Jeff Williams, an accomplished angler and businessman who has built tackle brands such as Team Catfish and Fle Fly, said he knows Keith will be able to get the company back to where it was.
“Everyone knows Luck E Strike and its industry-leading lures,” Williams says. “It’s a working folk’s brand and Toby Keith is the right person at the right time to build this thing back up. We’re already hard at work rebuilding wholesale relationships and vetting tackle manufacturer’s domestically and abroad. Luck E Strike will be a global tackle brand, with Toby’s involvement.”
According to a press release, “the company is relaunching this summer with a new focus on its traditional American made division in Greenwood Ark., while maintaining the current assortments sold nationwide, as well as a new slogan: ‘An American Original Since 1970.’”
“They’ve got a lot of history,” Keith added. “It’s actually one of the earliest fishing brands that is universally stocked in national retailers.”
Jimmy Houston, who has served as the host of the Jimmy Houston Outdoors television show for 46 years and counting, is Luck E Strike’s biggest brand ambassador.
“Jimmy is one of about three big legends in the fishing world,” Toby Keith later shared. “He has been a spokesperson for Luck E Strike for decades, and started building his Redman Spinners out of diaper pins and selling them to Walmart.”
Houston admits he thinks Keith is the perfect choice for the acquisition and knows it will have a major impact on the world of fishing.
“In addition to being one of the best singers and songwriters, Toby Keith is an incredible patriot,” Houston admitted. “Tying those two together in an American lure company known for making outstanding bass and crappie lures at great prices is so exciting. As his friend, I’m happy seeing the fire in his eyes over this company. It’s a big deal for the fishing industry as a whole to have him involved and bringing this brand back to where it ought to be.”
Toby Keith is taking the reigns of the business and vows to build it back up.
“This team is so good, and the brand and product speak for themselves,” Keith explained. “Through the years Luck E Strike has sold hundreds of SKUs nationally at major retailers. Unfortunately, that business has dwindled some, but we’re going to build that back up, add some rod-and-reel combos, apparel, fishing tools, and tackle systems. We will put this brand back at the level it deserves.”
He went on to share, “I’m a nostalgic guy and that’s part of it, but this is great stuff. I know a bunch of pro anglers and they’re all telling me if I can get them the stuff, they’ll fish with it.”
The “Oklahoma Breakdown” singer recently returned to the stage for the first time amid his battle with stomach cancer. Keith surprised fans with not just one, but two, surprise, pop-up performances in his home state of Oklahoma earlier this month.
The shows, which took place at his Hollywood Corners venue in Norman, Oklahoma, featured Keith performing alongside a full band and reportedly ran over two hours.
These two shows mark Keith’s first official headlining performances since being forced to cancel all of his tour dates in June of 2022 due to his stomach cancer diagnosis.
While his touring plans still remain unknown, Keith shared an encouraging health update while chatting with The Oklahoman.
“I feel better; I’ve got more wind. And I’m thinking about bringing the band in and setting up, playing two or three days somewhere just to see if I can get through two hours,” Keith continued, “And if I do, (I’ll) be out on the road this fall. All I got to do is see if I can get through two or three nights of work and get a little break in this chemo, and we’ll go back to work. I’m ready.”
Toby Keith is filled with optimism as he looks forward to hitting the road again this fall, although there have been no official announcements made yet. Stay updated by visiting his official website for the latest news and updates.
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.
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