“I’m just an old country boy from Georgia but Toby Keith certainly made me wanna be a cowboy,” Bryan declared.
Luke Bryan; Photos by Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for Universal Music Group
Luke Bryan‘s performance of “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” on the NBC special, Toby Keith: American Icon, was an emotional tribute that resonated deeply with Keith’s family and viewers alike. Not only did Bryan honor the late country music legend, but he also wore a cowboy hat gifted to him by his late sister before her passing, adding a personal and heartfelt touch to the already emotional performance.
Stepping onto the stage inside Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, Bryan said it was an “honor” to have the opportunity to celebrate Toby Keith, who he referred to as “the best ever.”
Luke Bryan; Photo by: Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for Universal Music Group
“Toby Keith was just a bada** dude. I got to hang with him a couple of times. He just always left the room telling the best jokes. He always had a song that he had written that very few people got to hear that he would play for you he was just doing so many things under the radar that were so special to a young up-and-coming artist like me,” he shared.
The emotions began to run high as he stepped away from the microphone to grab a special cowboy hat from the stage behind him.
“This hat has been hanging in my closet for probably 15 years,” Bryan explained. “My sister, down in Georiga when I was playing bars and doing about 10 Toby Keith songs a night, my sister bought me this hat. I used to wear this hat every night. Ever since I lost my sister, I hadn’t put this hat on stage in a lot of years. I was walking out the house and I said you know what, ‘I’m just an old country boy from Georgia but Toby Keith certainly made me wanna be a cowboy and I’m gonna be a cowboy tonight.”
The audience erupted with cheers as Bryan declared, “This is for you, Toby!”
He went on to deliver a standout performance of Toby Keith’s iconic debut hit, “Should’ve Been A Cowboy.”
Before the show, we caught up with Bryan who told us that was his first song choice when he got the opportunity to participate in the show.
“It’s going to be good,” Bryan teased. “Well, what’s funny is they called me and then some artists had taken some songs and I was like, ‘Is ‘Should’ve Been a Cowboy’ still available?’ And they were like, ‘Yeah.’ I was like, ‘There’s no practice needed for that one! I know that one.’”
He later added, “Tonight’s about honoring his legacy…he’s just gone too soon from us and he had a lot more to give.”
Luke Bryan was just one of the country superstars who dropped everything to honor the late Toby Keith. The two-hour special also included performances and special appearances from Trace Adkins, Priscilla Block, Eric Church, Jordan Davis, Scotty Emerick, Brett Favre, Brantley Gilbert, Riley Green, HARDY, Tyler Hubbard, Jamey Johnson, Krystal Keith, Ella Langley, Mac McAnally, Ashley McBryde, Parker McCollum, Leanne Morgan, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Clay Walker, and Lainey Wilson.
All artists perform onstage at Bridgestone Arena on July 29, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee; Photo by: Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for Universal Music Group
In addition to an array of musical performances spotlighting Keith’s incredible music and songwriter, Keith’s compassion and philanthropy were also highlighted throughout the special as the event supported Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and The Toby Keith Foundation’s OK Kids Korral. Families from both organizations appeared to share their stories of receiving vital care and support during their most challenging times.
Toby Keith: American Icon aired on Wednesday, August 28 at 9 pm ET/PT on NBC. The show will be available to stream the following day on Peacock.
Country music legend Toby Keith passed away on February 5, 2024, following a battle with stomach cancer. Throughout his career, he earned an impressive 32 No.1 singles and sold a whopping 40 million albums.
Toby Keith: American Icon
It’s no surprise that he is regarded as one of country music’s biggest hitmakers after earning a chart-topping hit every year for 20 consecutive years, including “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue (The Angry American),” “I Love This Bar,” “Beer For My Horses,” and “As Good As I Once Was.”
He is a recipient of the National Medal of Arts, he’s been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (following his induction into the all-genre Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015), and has been honored with the Academy of Country Music’s esteemed Merle Haggard Spirit Award.
Throughout his career, the Oklahoma native received the BMI Icon Award as well as the BMI Country Songwriter of the Year award three times, and his hit single “As Good As I Once Was” was awarded BMI’s Country Song of the Year in 2006.
Toby Keith’s music has garnered more than 10 billion streams and 100 million terrestrial radio spins to date.
