Remembering A Cowboy: The Legacy of Toby Keith

With a voice that’s been a mainstay on country radio for decades, a philanthropic spirit and an undeniable blue-collar swagger, Toby Keith was unapologetically himself in everything he did.

Toby Keith Covel was born in Clinton, Oklahoma, to Carolyn Joan and Hubert K. Covel Jr. Keith got his first guitar at the age of eight and his passion for music burgeoned from there.

After graduating high school, Keith worked in the oil fields, but when the oil industry took a hit, Keith, a longtime high school defensive end, joined the semi-pro Oklahoma City Drillers and performed music on the side.

Eventually, Keith decided to pivot and hedge his bets, heading to Nashville to pursue his passion in music.

Keith busked on Music Row and tried to get his demo passed into the hands of the right people. While on the verge of giving up, Keith got lucky enough that Harold Shedd, a longtime Mercury Records music executive, heard his tape and liked what he heard.

After seeing him live, Shedd inked him to a deal and his debut single “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” became an instant classic. The song topped the charts and ranked as the most-listened-to country song of the 1990s.

Keith would follow that up with patriotic ballads like, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” and “American Soldier.” While adding cult classics like, “Red Solo Cup,” “How Do You Like Me Now,” and “American Ride” amongst others.

His career spanned three decades, selling over 40 million albums, landing 32 singles on the top of the charts and winning dozens of CMA and ACM awards.

Various other business ventures and restaurant franchises like the, “I Love This Bar & Grill,” (a play off another one of his number one singles) were spawned by Keith as well, and he even delved into philanthropy with an emphasis on childhood cancer.

Keith’s final tour was the 2018 Should’ve Been A Cowboy XXV tour with Eric Paslay, and he released his final single, “Don’t Let The Old Man In,” the same year.

In 2021 he received the National Medal of Arts from then President Donald Trump, and in 2022 he released the unfortunate news that he was suffering from stomach cancer.

Last fall, he was honored with the first-ever People’s Choice Country Awards Icon Award. In the leadup to the award show at The Grand Ole Opry, he held an exclusive interview with PEOPLE Magazine where he reminisced on his legacy.

“Just seeing how enormous the career I amassed over 30 years…you know where you were when you wrote all those songs and you hear those numbers, and it's just like you looked up one day and all of a sudden 30 years went by. It's pretty magnificent," Keith said.

Keith has inspired songwriters and performers galore, with that no more evident than the tributes that rolled in Tuesday following the announcement of his passing.

Jason Aldean, fellow country star and friend of Keith’s said, “Today’s a sad day for country music and its fans, Toby was a huge presence in our business and someone we all looked up to and respected. You and your music will be remembered forever, big man.”

Zach Bryan like many shared his relatable experience of listening to his father blare Keith’s hits in the car, adding, “Too many rides in my old man’s car listening to Toby Keith, really hard thing to hear. Rest in peace friend, we love you.”

Perhaps no quote is more befitting of the mentality Keith carried about death than the lines in what would prove to be his final single when he crooned; “Try to love on your wife and stay close to your friends, toast each sundown with wine,” he continued, “when he rides up on his horse and you feel that cold bitter wind, look out your window and smile, don’t let the old man in.”

Keith passed at 62 and is survived by his wife Tricia and three kids, Krystal, Stelen and Shelley.

Dylan Price is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email dvp5625@psu.edu.