Trace Adkins Remembers Toby Keith’s Humor and Legacy Ahead Of NBC Tribute Performance [Exclusive]

Trace Adkins will honor his longtime friend and former tourmate, Toby Keith, on Wednesday with a stirring performance of “American Soldier” during the two-hour NBC special, Toby Keith: American Icon. 

Adkins, who was left at a “loss for words” upon Keith’s untimely passing in February, is one of many country stars who took part in the tribute event in honor of the late country music legend.  

“I’m not surprised that at the folks that showed up to honor Toby and every entertainer in the world would’ve been here if they’d have called them, probably,” Adkins told Country Now ahead of the star-studded concert. 

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The chart-topping country singer told us he was “proud” and “honored” to stand on the stage to honor his dear friend. 

“To be doing a song that I know meant a lot to Toby, ‘American Soldier,’ his respect and love for the men and women that serve this country was, it was genuine and it was profound,” Adkins shared. “And so I know what this song meant to him and so I’m just proud to be doing it.” 

As someone who spent a lot of time with Toby Keith, both on stage and behind the scenes, Adkins remembered his friend as someone with a good sense of humor.  

“Toby was hilarious, but he had that dry kind of sneaky wit. He was throwing curve balls all day long. He never hardly threw one straight over the middle of the place. He was throwing junk and talking smack, and he was just a lot of fun to be around and I enjoyed it,” Adkins said.  

During the show, he will perform “American Soldier” backed by Mac McAnally.

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 Priscilla Block, Luke Bryan, 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.