Toby Keith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Toby Keith
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Keith performing in 2012
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Toby Keith Covel |
| Born | July 8, 1961 Clinton, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Origin | Moore, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | February 5, 2024 (aged 62) Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Genres | Country |
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| Years active | 1993–2024 |
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Toby Keith Covel (born July 8, 1961 – died February 5, 2024), known as Toby Keith, was a famous American country music singer. He was also a talented songwriter, record producer, and actor. Toby Keith became well-known for his many hit songs and albums.
In the 1990s, Toby Keith released his first four studio albums. These included Toby Keith (1993) and Boomtown (1994). His debut song, "Should've Been a Cowboy", became a number one hit.
Later, he joined DreamWorks Records Nashville. There, he released his huge hit song "How Do You Like Me Now?!" in 1999. This song was the top country song of 2000. Many of his songs became number one hits during this time.
Toby Keith released 19 studio albums and many other collections. He sold over 40 million albums worldwide. He had 20 number one hits and 22 other songs in the top 10 on the country music charts. His songs "Beer for My Horses" (with Willie Nelson) and "As Good as I Once Was" were number one for six weeks each. In 2021, he received the National Medal of Arts for his contributions to music.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Toby Keith Covel was born on July 8, 1961, in Clinton, Oklahoma. He grew up with a sister and a brother. His family lived in Fort Smith, Arkansas, for a few years. Later, they moved to Moore, Oklahoma.
When he was young, Toby visited his grandmother in Fort Smith. She owned a place called Billie Garner's Supper Club. Toby became very interested in the musicians who played there. He helped out at the club and even started playing with the band. He got his first guitar when he was eight years old.
After moving to Moore, Toby went to Moore High School. He was a football player there. After high school, he worked in the oil fields. He started as a derrick hand and worked his way up to supervisor.
When Toby was 20, he and his friends formed a band called Easy Money. They played at local bars and clubs. Sometimes, Toby had to leave a concert to go work in the oil field. In 1982, the oil industry slowed down, and Toby lost his job. He then played semi-pro football for a short time. But he soon decided to focus only on music.
In 1984, Easy Money started playing on the honky-tonk circuit in Oklahoma and Texas. Toby's family and friends were not sure he would succeed in music. But he kept working hard.
Building a Music Career
In the early 1990s, Toby Keith went to Nashville, Tennessee. This city is famous for country music. He tried to get a record deal by giving out demo tapes of his band's music. But no record companies were interested at first. Toby felt sad and thought about giving up music. He had promised himself a contract by age 30.
Then, a flight attendant who was a fan of his music helped him. She gave a copy of his demo tape to Harold Shedd, an executive at Mercury Records. Shedd liked what he heard. He went to see Toby perform live and then signed him to a record deal.
Early Success: First Albums
Toby Keith's first song, "Should've Been a Cowboy", became a number one hit in 1993. It was on his first album, also called Toby Keith. This album sold over a million copies. It also had other popular songs like "He Ain't Worth Missing" and "A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action". Music critics said the album showed Toby's strong talent.
After this, Toby signed with Polydor Records Nashville. He released his second album, Boomtown, in 1994. This album also sold a million copies. It included the number one song "Who's That Man". He also released his first Christmas album, Christmas to Christmas, in 1995.
New Labels and More Hits
Toby then joined A&M Records. In 1996, he released his album Blue Moon. This album was also very popular. It featured his third number one hit, "Me Too". Toby also sang on The Beach Boys' album Stars and Stripes Vol. 1.
In 1997, Toby returned to Mercury Records. He released his fourth album, Dream Walkin'. This album had two songs that reached number 2 on the charts: "We Were in Love" and a cover of Sting's song "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying". Sting even sang on the song with Toby.
Toby's last album with Mercury was Greatest Hits Volume One in 1998. It had his older hits and two new songs. After this, Toby decided to leave Mercury Records.
Breakthrough with DreamWorks
In 1999, Toby Keith joined DreamWorks Records' Nashville division. His first big hit with them was "How Do You Like Me Now?!". This song spent five weeks at number 1 on the country charts. It also became his first song to reach the top 40 on the pop charts. This album, also called How Do You Like Me Now?!, was very successful.
His next album, Pull My Chain, came out in 2001. All three songs released from it—"I'm Just Talkin' About Tonight", "I Wanna Talk About Me", and "My List"—went to number 1. "My List" was even named Single of the Year in 2002.
Continued Success and Patriotic Songs
In 2002, Toby released the album Unleashed. It included the song "Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue (The Angry American)". Toby wrote this song after the September 11, 2001, attacks. It was a tribute to his father, a military veteran. This song and "Who's Your Daddy?" both became number 1 hits. Another hit from this album was "Beer for My Horses", a duet with Willie Nelson. This song was number 1 for six weeks.
His next album, Shock'n Y'all, came out in 2003. All the singles from this album also went to number 1. These included "I Love This Bar", "American Soldier", and "Whiskey Girl".
Toby's last album with DreamWorks was Honkytonk University in 2005. It featured the song "As Good as I Once Was", which was number 1 for six weeks. After this album, DreamWorks Records closed down.
Later Career and New Ventures
In 2005, Toby Keith started his own record label called Show Dog Nashville. He continued to release new music through his own label. In 2008, he released 35 Biggest Hits, a collection of his most popular songs.
He had more number one hits, like "She Never Cried in Front of Me" and "God Love Her". His 2009 album, American Ride, had another number one song, its title track. In 2011, his song "Made in America" also reached number 1. Another popular song was "Red Solo Cup", which became a big hit.
In 2011, Toby Keith was named "Artist of the Decade" by the American Country Awards. He continued to release albums like Hope on the Rocks (2012) and Drinks After Work (2013). In 2015, he was honored by being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In 2023, Toby Keith performed publicly for the first time since his cancer diagnosis. He sang "Don't Let the Old Man In" and received a standing ovation.
Acting Career
Toby Keith also had a career in acting. He appeared in TV commercials for companies like Telecom USA and Ford.
He also made appearances in professional wrestling. In 2002, he was on a Total Nonstop Action Wrestling show. He even got into the ring and helped a wrestler win a match.
Toby Keith also appeared on comedy shows. He was on The Colbert Report several times. He even appeared in Stephen Colbert's Christmas special.
Movies
In 2006, Toby Keith starred in the movie Broken Bridges. He played a country musician named Bo Price. The movie also featured actors like Kelly Preston and Burt Reynolds.
In 2008, Toby wrote and starred in another movie called Beer for My Horses. This movie was based on his popular song of the same name.
Business Ventures
Toby Keith was also a successful businessman. In 2005, he opened his first restaurant, Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill. He opened locations in Oklahoma City, Syracuse, and Tulsa. Later, more restaurants opened across the country.
In 2009, he started his own clothing line called TK Steelman. In 2011, he launched a new drink called "Wild Shot". It was first sold in Mexico and then in the United States. It was also served in his restaurants.
Toby Keith's music career and businesses made him one of the richest celebrities in the U.S. Forbes magazine even featured him on its cover in 2013. They called him "Country Music's $500 million man."
Personal Life
Toby Keith married Tricia Lucus on March 24, 1984. They had three children together.
Toby's father passed away in a car accident in 2001. Toby's family later received money in a lawsuit related to the accident.
Toby Keith was a big fan of University of Oklahoma sports teams. He often watched their games. He also loved professional wrestling and attended many shows. He was a Free Will Baptist.
Helping Others
Toby Keith was very involved in charity work. He supported Ally's House, a group in Oklahoma that helps children with cancer. He said, "I saw firsthand how a child's cancer diagnosis can devastate a family. Please join me in supporting these kids through Ally's House."
He also filmed a public service announcement for Little Kids Rock. This group helps bring music education to schools that need it.
Health and Passing
In June 2022, Toby Keith shared that he had been diagnosed with stomach cancer in late 2021. He had been receiving treatment for several months. Toby Keith passed away in his sleep in Oklahoma on February 5, 2024, at the age of 62.
Many country artists and famous people shared their sadness and paid tribute to him. These included Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, and First Lady Jill Biden.
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) also starring Kelly Preston and Lindsey Haun
- CMT Music Awards (2003–2012) Co-Host With Pamela Anderson and Kristen Bell
- Beer for My Horses (2008)
Images for kids
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Toby Keith playing guitar
See also
In Spanish: Toby Keith para niños
