Toby Keith died at the age of 62 on February 5 after a long battle with stomach cancer. The industry mourned the American country singer’s death. Famous for his often-received No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, Keith was highly praised for his contribution to the genre.
The 2024 CMT Music Awards, held on Sunday night, noted the loss of the beloved singer, and he received a tribute at the event.
It was performed by the late singer’s friends Brooks & Dunn and Sammy Hagar. Keith’s mentee, Lainey Wilson, also joined the group for a tearful tribute.
Baseball star Roger Clemens introduced the performance, which included some of Keith’s biggest hits, including “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “How Do You Like Me Now,” and “I Love This Bar.“
.@brooksanddunn paid tribute to Toby Keith on the #CMTAwards stage with a performance of "Should've Been a Cowboy" 🤍 pic.twitter.com/r5y9PMUmnH
— CMT (@CMT) April 8, 2024
Clemens shared with the audience how, even while battling cancer, Keith maintained his humor and witty nature. After the performance concluded, a teary-eyed Clemens took to the stage and raised a red solo cup with the audience to honor the late artist. Raising his cup to heaven, Clemens addressed the people in attendance. He said,
Repeat after me. Let Toby hear you. Repeat after me: ‘Whiskey for my men and beer for my horses.’
The speech, which referenced the late star’s hit song Beer for My Horses, made everyone emotional.
Keith’s three children, Krystal Keith, Shelley Covel Rowland, and Stelen Keith Covel, attended the event. They were also seen getting emotional as they looked at the love and praise their dad had received even after his demise. Fans also took to social media to share their emotions after the tribute.
Notably, Toby Keith was a thirty-time CMT nominee and a seven-time winner. He also co-hosted the show in 2003 and 2012 with Pamela Anderson and Kristen Bell, respectively.
Moreover, the late star will also be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in the upcoming months.
