Monday night was all about Toby Keith in Music City, as a star-studded concert honored the late country music legend.
Many of Nashville’s finest artists and thousands of fans packed Bridgestone Arena Monday night (July 29) to pay tribute to Toby Keith. The two-hour concert event was jam-packed with performances of some of Toby’s biggest hits and appearances from some of his closest friends.
Among the performers was Luke Bryan who had the honor of performing Toby Keith’s signature hit, “Should’ve Been A Cowboy.” Bryan has covered the song, and other Toby Keith hits, in concert several times since Toby’s death in February, but Monday’s performance somehow seemed more meaningful.
Bryan donned a cowboy hat for the performance, a rare sight considering Luke is most often seen in a baseball cap. He explained to the crowd that the hat was a gift from his sister who died in 2007, and he hadn’t worn it since she passed.
“I was walking out of the house and I said, ‘You know what? I’m just an old country boy from Georgia, but Toby Keith certainly made me want to be a cowboy,” Bryan said. “So I’m gonna be a cowboy tonight. This is for you, Toby.”
@thetraveladdict.com Luke Bryan gets emotional at the Toby Keith tribute in Nashville at Toby Keith American Icon. #lukebryan #tobykeith #tobykeithtribute #countrymusic #countrymusictiktoks #tobykeithtributeconcert #nashville #nashvilletn #country #tobykeithamericanicon @Luke Bryan ♬ original sound – thetraveladdict
The crowd sang along enthusiastically with Bryan, as captured in a video posted by a concert attendee. Toby’s family is also seen sitting at the side of the stage singing along.
The concert, Toby Keith: American Icon, comes nearly six months after Toby passed away following a valiant battle with stomach cancer.
A private burial took place shortly after Toby’s death and numerous tribute performances have taken place since. But Monday’s concert was the first full-length event that allowed fans to publicly mourn and celebrate the late legend as it served as a memorial service of sorts.
In addition to Luke Bryan, other celebrities who made appearances included Carrie Underwood, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, HARDY, Brett Favre, Trace Adkins, Ashley McBryde, and many more. Toby’s daughter Krystal Keith even made an appearance to perform a special tribute to her dad.
Toby Keith: American Icon also served as a fundraising event for the Toby Keith Foundation which funds the OK Kids Corral.
The OK Kids Corral is a facility that offers lodging for pediatric cancer patients and their families. Located in Oklahoma City, the venue offers 12 suites for family overnight stays and 4 daytime rooms, plus numerous other amenities at no charge to patients and their families.
Toby Keith: American Idol will air as a two-hour television special on NBC on August 28th.