Toby Keith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Toby Keith
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Keith in 2007
|
|
| Born |
Toby Keith Covel
July 8, 1961 Clinton, Oklahoma, U.S.
|
| Died | February 5, 2024 (aged 62) Oklahoma, U.S.
|
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1993–2024 |
| Spouse(s) |
Tricia Lucus
(m. 1984) |
| Children | 3, including Krystal |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Country |
| Instruments |
|
| Labels |
|
Toby Keith Covel (July 8, 1961 – February 5, 2024) was a famous American country music singer, songwriter, and actor. He was known by his stage name, Toby Keith. He created many popular songs and albums during his career.
Keith became well-known in 1993 with his first hit song, "Should've Been a Cowboy". Throughout the 1990s, he released several successful albums. His song "How Do You Like Me Now?!" was a huge hit in 2000. He continued to release many number one songs and albums.
In 2005, Toby Keith started his own music label, Show Dog Nashville. He also acted in movies like Broken Bridges (2006) and Beer for My Horses (2008). Overall, Keith sold over 40 million albums worldwide. He had 20 number one hits and many other songs in the Top 10 on the country music charts. He received the National Medal of Arts in 2021.
Toby Keith passed away on February 5, 2024. He was honored by being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2024.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Toby Keith Covel was born on July 8, 1961, in Clinton, Oklahoma. He had a sister and a brother. His family lived in Fort Smith, Arkansas, for a few years. Later, they moved to Moore, Oklahoma, near Oklahoma City.
During summers, Toby visited his grandmother in Fort Smith. She owned a supper club where musicians played. This is where Toby first became interested in music. He helped out at the club and sometimes played with the band. He got his first guitar when he was eight years old.
In Moore, Toby went to Southgate Elementary, Highland West Junior High, and Moore High School. He played football there as a defensive end. After high school, he worked in the oil fields. He even became a supervisor.
When Toby was 20, he formed a band called Easy Money Band with his friends. They played at local places while he still worked in the oil industry. Sometimes, he had to leave a concert to go to work. When the oil industry slowed down, Toby focused more on his music. His band then played in many country music venues in Oklahoma and Texas.
Musical Career
Toby Keith went to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue his music dreams. He performed on the streets until a producer named Harold Shedd discovered him. Shedd signed Toby with Mercury Records.
Early Success (1993–1998)
Toby's first song, "Should've Been a Cowboy", became a number one hit in 1993. This song was on his first album, Toby Keith, which sold over a million copies. Other popular songs from this album included "He Ain't Worth Missing" and "A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action".
He then released his second album, Boomtown, in 1994. It featured another number one hit, "Who's That Man". His third album, Blue Moon (1996), gave him his third number one song, "Me Too". In 1997, he released Dream Walkin', which included a duet with the famous musician Sting, called "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying".
Breakthrough and Number One Hits (1999–2005)
In 1999, Toby Keith joined DreamWorks Records' Nashville division. His song "How Do You Like Me Now?!" became a huge success, staying at number one for five weeks. It was the top country song of 2000. This album also had other hits like "Country Comes to Town" and "You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This".
His album Pull My Chain (2001) had three number one singles: "I'm Just Talkin' About Tonight", "I Wanna Talk About Me", and "My List". These songs were very popular with fans.
In 2002, he released the Unleashed album. It included the patriotic song "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)", which he wrote after the September 11, 2001 attacks. This album also featured "Who's Your Daddy?" and a duet with Willie Nelson called "Beer for My Horses", both reaching number one.
His 2003 album, Shock'n Y'all, also had three number one hits: "I Love This Bar", "American Soldier", and "Whiskey Girl". In 2005, his album Honkytonk University included the popular song "As Good as I Once Was", which was number one for six weeks.
Show Dog-Universal Music and Later Years (2005–2024)
After DreamWorks Records closed, Toby Keith started his own record label, Show Dog Nashville, in 2005. He continued to release successful albums.
In 2008, he released That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy, which had two number one songs: "She Never Cried in Front of Me" and "God Love Her". His 2009 album, American Ride, also had a number one title track.
Later albums included Clancy's Tavern (2011), which featured the number one hit "Made in America" and the very popular "Red Solo Cup". He continued to release new music and tour for many years.
In 2021, Toby Keith received the National Medal of Arts from President Donald Trump. In September 2023, he performed publicly for the first time since his cancer diagnosis, singing "Don't Let the Old Man In". His final public performance was in Las Vegas in December 2023.
In March 2024, after his passing, Toby Keith was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Acting Career
Toby Keith also appeared on television and in movies.
Television Appearances
He was in commercials for Telecom USA and Ford trucks, singing original songs. In 2002, he made an appearance at a wrestling event for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (then NWA-TNA). He also participated in the Comedy Central Roast of Larry the Cable Guy in 2009. Toby Keith was a musical guest on The Colbert Report several times.
Films
In 2006, Toby Keith starred in the film Broken Bridges. He played a country musician named Bo Price. The movie also featured Kelly Preston and Burt Reynolds. In 2008, he wrote and starred in the movie Beer for My Horses, which was inspired by his hit song of the same name.
Business Ventures
Toby Keith was also a successful businessman.
Restaurant Chain
In 2005, Toby Keith opened his first Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill restaurant in Oklahoma City. The restaurant chain expanded to many locations across the United States. However, over time, the franchise faced various challenges and many locations eventually closed.
Other Ventures
In 2009, Toby Keith started his own clothing line called TK Steelman. His successful music career and other businesses made him one of the wealthiest celebrities. Forbes magazine featured him on its cover in 2013, calling him "Country Music's $500 million man." The article highlighted his earnings and his role in co-founding Big Machine Records.
Political Beliefs
Toby Keith was known for his strong patriotic feelings and support for the U.S. military. He made many trips to the Middle East starting in 2002 to perform for soldiers. He believed it was important to respect veterans and those who defend the nation.
He described himself as a "conservative Democrat" early in his career. He supported President George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election. Later, in 2008, he registered as an independent, stating that his previous party no longer represented his views.
Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue
After his father's death in a car accident and the September 11 attacks in 2001, Toby Keith wrote the song "Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue (The Angry American)". This song expressed his father's patriotism and faith in the United States. Military leaders encouraged him to record the song. It became a number one hit in 2002. There was a discussion with a TV network about whether the song was suitable for a Fourth of July concert, but Toby Keith always stood by his patriotic message.
Performing for Presidents
In January 2017, Toby Keith performed at the "Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration" for President Donald Trump. He thanked both outgoing President Barack Obama and President-elect Trump. He performed several patriotic songs. Keith stated that he would perform for any U.S. president who asked, as a way to support his country and military. He had also performed for Presidents Bush and Obama and for troops overseas.
Personal Life and Death
Toby Keith married Tricia Lucus on March 24, 1984. They had three children, including his daughter Krystal Keith, who is also a singer.
His father, H. K. Covel, passed away in a car accident on March 24, 2001. This event deeply affected Toby.
Toby was a big fan of the University of Oklahoma sports teams, especially their football team. He also enjoyed professional wrestling.
Philanthropy
Toby Keith was very generous and supported several charities. In 2004, he helped start Ally's House, a charity for children with cancer. It was named after the daughter of one of his bandmates, who had passed away from cancer.
In 2006, he created the Toby Keith Foundation. This foundation built the OK Kids Korral, a special place for children with cancer and their families to stay while receiving treatment at OU Medical Center. His annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic has raised over $15 million for the OK Kids Korral. He considered this his greatest accomplishment.
Cancer Diagnosis and Death
In June 2022, Toby Keith announced that he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer in late 2021. He had been undergoing treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. He described his battle with cancer as "pretty debilitating."
Toby Keith passed away peacefully in his sleep in Oklahoma on February 5, 2024, at the age of 62.
After his death, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt ordered flags to be flown at half-staff to honor him. The University of Oklahoma men's basketball team also paid tribute by having fans sing "Red Solo Cup" while holding red cups. Many fellow country artists, public figures, and fans shared their sadness and memories of Toby Keith.
Tours
- Brooks and Dunn's Neon Circus and Wild West Show 2001
- Unleashed Tour 2002
- USO 2002–13 (11 tours, visiting 15 countries and 3 naval ships)
- Shock'N Y'all Tour 2003
- Big Throwdown Tour 2004
- Big Throwdown Tour II 2005
- ... With Money Tour 2006
- Hookin' Up and Hangin' Out Tour 2007
- Big Dog Daddy Tour 2007
- Biggest and Baddest Tour 2008–09
- America's Toughest Tour 2009
- Toby Keith's American Ride Tour 2010
- Locked and Loaded Tour 2011
- Live in Overdrive Tour
- Hammer Down Tour 2013
- Hammer Down Under Tour 2014
- Shut Up and Hold On Tour 2014
- Good Times and Pick Up Lines Tour 2015
- Interstates and Tailgates Tour 2016
- Should've Been A Cowboy XXV 2018
Discography
Studio Albums
- Toby Keith (1993)
- Boomtown (1994)
- Blue Moon (1996)
- Dream Walkin' (1997)
- How Do You Like Me Now?! (1999)
- Pull My Chain (2001)
- Unleashed (2002)
- Shock'n Y'all (2003)
- Honkytonk University (2005)
- ... with Money (2006)
- Big Dog Daddy (2007)
- That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy (2008)
- American Ride (2009)
- Bullets in the Gun (2010)
- Clancy's Tavern (2011)
- Hope on the Rocks (2012)
- Drinks After Work (2013)
- 35 MPH Town (2015)
- Peso in My Pocket (2021)
Compilation Albums
- Greatest Hits Volume One (1998)
- 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection (2003)
- Greatest Hits 2 (2004)
- 35 Biggest Hits (2008)
- The Bus Songs (2017)
- Greatest Hits: The Show Dog Years (2019)
Christmas Albums
- Christmas to Christmas (1995)
- A Classic Christmas (2007)
Number One Singles
- "Should've Been a Cowboy"
- "Who's That Man"
- "Me Too"
- "How Do You Like Me Now?!"
- "You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This"
- "I'm Just Talkin' About Tonight"
- "I Wanna Talk About Me"
- "My List"
- "Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue (The Angry American)"
- "Who's Your Daddy?"
- "Beer for My Horses" – duet with Willie Nelson
- "I Love This Bar"
- "American Soldier"
- "Whiskey Girl"
- "As Good as I Once Was"
- "Love Me If You Can"
- "She Never Cried in Front of Me"
- "God Love Her"
- "American Ride"
- "Made in America"
Filmography
- Broken Bridges (2006)
- CMT Music Awards (2003–2012) Co-Host
- Beer for My Horses (2008)
See also
In Spanish: Toby Keith para niños
