Toby Keith’s death was a heartbreaking event that thousands of people around the world mourned. The late singer was a wonderful performer and sang so many soulful songs that will live on forever.
The country music industry is now honoring the loss. Keep reading to see what made his son tear up.
For this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards, Toby Keith’s of life and legacy was honored as it should be for any country music legend. There was an incredibly special performance by Jason Aldean.
Blake Shelton introduced the performance. As Shelton introduced the act, he talked about the late Keith saying that he was a “was a loving husband” and “a proud father.”
Keith’s son, Stelen was in the audience with his sisters Shelley and Krystal. His mother, Keith’s wife of 40 years, Tricia was also present at the event.
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Shelton then introduced Aldean, who was a longtime friend of Keith who then performed in honor of his late friend a beautiful musical tribute.
Aldean, sitting on a simple stool accompanied by a guitarist, Aldean performed a soulful version of Keith’s 1993 single “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.” The performance led to the entire theater becoming incredibly emotional. As Aldean performed, pictures of Keith flashed on screens behind him. One of his last pictures flashed on screen, of Keith beaming, standing with all of his family.
The camera then panned to his family, his son Stelen and wife, Tricia, were seen with tears rolling down their face during the emotional tribute.
Keith passed away on February 5, 2024, from a battle with stomach cancer that last over a year. He was 62 years old at the time of his death.
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Stelen also paid tribute to his dad just a few days after he passed by posting a throwback photo of him on Instagram along with a heartbreaking caption.
“You are the strongest man I have ever known. A fighter. A true titan of your industry. My guiding star. My coach. My hero,” Stelen said in his caption. “An embodiment of the American Spirit. You are a man whose strength, prowess, and talent could only be trumped by his ability to be a father and husband. Your impact is forever stamped on the world and on millions of people, yet not one person knew you the way I did.”
“You were my biggest champion and the guiding light in my darkest times. The best mentor a man could ask for. You held a passion that was greater than mountains and it radiates through every lyric and chord,” he continued. “In the everlasting echo from the legacy of your music, you leave me strength and faith to lean on in the silence that follows. You truly did it your way, from the starting gates to the finish line, and never apologized for it. The only thing I truly ever wanted in life was to make you proud. I promise I will continue to make you proud.”
He ended his caption with, “It’s not goodbye forever; it’s just goodbye for now. I love you cowboy.”
Check out the beautiful performance below. Share it with other fans as well.