Toby Keith’s Family Overwhelmed By Outpouring Of Support From The Country Music Community

Toby Keith’s children, Shelley, Krystal, and Stelen, admitted they were “thoroughly impressed” and “moved” when they found out just how many country stars were willing to clear their busy schedules so that they could take part in honoring their late father in tonight’s NBC special, Toby Keith: American Icon. 

While speaking with Country Now ahead of the taping of the two-hour show, Shelley revealed that these plans had been in the works since shortly after Keith lost his battle with cancer on February 5, 2024. They wanted to take as much time as they needed to organize a celebration that properly paid tribute to his life, influential career, and philanthropy. 

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“It really just started coming together. We didn’t know if it was going to be in the summer or in next spring. A lot of artists, as you I’m sure know, schedule their tours far in advance and so it’s been overwhelming and heartwarming to see how many really just dropped what they had going on to be here tonight for our dad. That’s a lot of love. I’m just thoroughly impressed and moved,” Shelley shared. 

Krystal, who will be performing a beautiful rendition of “Don’t Let the Old Man In” during the show, also shared that the star-studded lineup is “really powerful.” She noted that they had so many artists interested in being part of the event that they struggled to try and figure out how to find everyone a slot. 

“I think that this show’s going to be really incredible, and he deserved a celebration,” she said. “We just had to figure out when timing was good for our family to be able to muster the courage to come do things like this. But really, it’s special and it says so much that he meant so much to them to just say yes on the spot and be here.” 

Even though some of the newer generation of country stars may have never gotten the chance to truly get to know the kind of person Keith was, they still felt connected to him because as Krystal said, “he was literally the background track for their lives.”

“I’ve had people tell me, ‘I knew I was a fan and I knew a lot of his songs, but then when you really get into his catalog, you’re like, oh my gosh, literally every song I grew up listening to, whether I was paying attention or not, he was on the station. He was in the background while I was doing X, Y, and Z,’” Krystal continued. “So I think it’s really special that they are getting to take a look at his career and understand what an impact he had on them, even if they didn’t realize it.”

In addition to celebrating some of Toby Keith’s greatest hits, his passion for philanthropy will also be highlighted as the event benefits Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and The Toby Keith Foundation’s OK Kids Korral. Families from each organization will be brought up throughout the show to share their stories of receiving care and support when they needed it most, thanks to Keith’s efforts. 

“The one thing that he probably loved just as much as songwriting was his foundation and being able to help so many kids and families that really need it,” Stelen shared. “Having events like this that benefit the Korral are only going to help propel and fund an amazing cause and that he really, really cared deeply about, truthfully.”

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, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Jordan Davis, Scotty Emerick, Brantley Gilbert, Riley Green, HARDY, Tyler Hubbard, Jamey Johnson, 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.