Live Review: Star-Studded ‘Toby Keith: American Icon’ Concert

Some of the biggest names in music, sports, and entertainment joined forces to celebrate the late Toby Keith at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Monday, July 29, for Toby Keith: An American Icon. The once-in-a-lifetime concert celebrated the life and legacy of global superstar Toby Keith, who passed away on February 5, 2024, at the age of 62 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame shortly before his passing, Keith was a legendary singer-songwriter who sold 44 million albums, achieved 33 No. 1 hits, and is a member of the all-genre Songwriters Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, as well as a recipient of the National Medal of Arts.

Co-hosted by Priscilla Block and Jelly Roll, the two-hour concert celebrated the life and the legacy of Oklahoma’s “Big Dog Daddy” through music and memories. 

“This is the most Toby-est stage you have ever seen,” declared Jelly Roll.

On the left side of the stage, a massive American flag structure served as a platform for members of the U.S. military to watch the show. Below them, Keith’s family was seated on stage to soak in the musical tributes and greet the performers. The right side of the stage featured a honkytonk-style bar decorated with red Solo cups, which became a hangout spot for artists throughout the night.

Who performed at Toby Keith: An American Icon

The all-star lineup featured celebrities from the worlds of country music and beyond. 

Performers included Trace Adkins, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Jordan Davis, Scotty Emerick, Brantley Gilbert, Riley Green, HARDY, Tyler Hubbard, Jamey Johnson, Ella Langley, Mac McAnally, Ashley McBryde, Parker McCollum, Jelly Roll, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Clay Walker, Lainey Wilson, and Keith’s daughter, Krystal Keith.

Fellow Oklahoman Carrie Underwood kicked off the night by emerging from the group of servicemen and women, walking down a set of stairs and taking centre stage to deliver a sassy rendition of Keith’s 1993 hit A Little Less Talk And A Lot More Action.

Eric Church shared memories of how Keith gave him a chance 15 years ago when he was having trouble getting gigs. “There is no way I am standing here today if it wasn’t for Toby Keith,” said the 47-year-old before performing As Good As I Once Was.

The first collaboration of the night came from HARDY and Brantley Gilbert, who previously recorded The Worst Country Song of All Time with Keith. For their tribute performance, the pair sang the lighthearted revenge tune How Do You Like Me Now?!

Darius Rucker described Keith as one of the first people to welcome him to the country music community. “He was a class act,” said Rucker, who performed his favourite Keith song, God Love Her.

Newcomers Riley Green and Ella Langley teamed up for a unique performance of Keith’s 2002 song, Who’s Your Daddy? showcasing their flirtatious chemistry.

Throughout the night, country music legends Willie Nelson, Reba McEntire, George Strait, and Blake Shelton, as well as celebrities Carrot Top and Stephen Colbert, shared video tribute messages of their fond memories with Keith.

Ashley McBryde honoured Keith’s legacy as a songwriter, praising his truthful essence. With his nostalgic Wish I Didn’t Know Now, she took fans back to the early 90s. 

One of the most stunning moments of the night was when Lainey Wilson appeared on horseback in the middle of Bridgestone Arena. She rode a horse through the crowd and then took the stage with Jamey Johnson to perform the rowdy Beer For My Horses. Wilson went on to describe Keith as “always a gentleman and always down to help those who needed it the most.”

Luke Bryan ditched his signature ball cap and traded it for a black cowboy hat in honour of both Keith and his late sister.

In the early days of his career, Bryan would perform about ten Keith songs a night in his set, so his sister gave him a cowboy hat. After she passed, the hat sat in his closet for more than 15 years. “I’m just an old country boy from Georgia, but Toby Keith certainly made me wanna be a cowboy,” Bryan said as he put on that cowboy hat again.

Fans sang along to Bryan’s version of Should’ve Been a Cowboy at the top of their lungs, celebrating the iconic song from Keith’s catalogue of massive hits.

Jelly Roll returned to the stage to perform a poignant version of Keith’s My List, highlighting the importance of making time for family. “Toby inspired me to be a better American, a better human, a better songwriter, and with songs like this, most importantly, he inspired me to be a better father.”

Keith was also celebrated as a pioneer in artist-owned bars. Jordan Davis performed I Love This Bar while a video montage of neon signs from Broadway appeared behind him, from Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottoms Up and Miranda Lambert’s Casa Rosa to Luke’s 32 Bridge and Eric Church’s Chief’s. Clay Walker joined Davis for a verse of the song, singing from the on-stage bar. 

There wouldn’t be a Toby Keith tribute without his 2011 career-defining party song, Red Solo Cup, performed by Tyler Hubbard alongside the song’s co-writers, The Warren Brothers and Brett and Jim Beavers. HARDY, Jelly Roll, and Jordan Davis also returned to the stage to join the singalong.

Fans were treated to an exclusive look at a video of Keith from his last-ever studio recording. Part of the Joe Diffie tribute album Hixtape Vol. 3: Difftape, Keith’s version of Ships That Don’t Come In showcased the thunderous power of his voice, which he maintained until the very end.

Football legend Brett Favre, comedian Leanne Morgan, and Keith’s daughter Shelley Covel Rowland were special guests on stage throughout the night.

“I think he would be having a heck of a time, especially knowing that all of this music, energy, and love benefits his OK Kids Korral and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. My dad knew that your worth isn’t measured by what you have but by what you give,” said Covel Rowland.

While most of the night was a high-energy celebration of Keith’s musical legacy, there was one tear-jerker moment.

Keith’s daughter Krystal Keith took the stage to perform Don’t Let The Old Man In, backed by singer-songwriters and long-time Keith collaborators Scotty Emerick and Mac McAnally. Her powerful performance was amplified by a collage of pictures of Krystal with her dad over the years on screen behind her. Overcome with emotion, Krystal embraced her family on stage afterwards.

The end of the show focused on Keith’s dedication to the U.S. military, with stories from special guest General James L. Jones, former National Security Advisor of the United States. The crowd erupted into chants of “USA! USA!” before members of the 101st Airborne Division took the stage for a presentation of colours. 

A somber Trace Adkins, clearly still mourning the loss of his friend, performed American Soldier with his signature deep, rumbling voice.

To close out the night, Parker McCollum led the all-star cast in the proudly patriotic anthem Courtesy Of The Red, White, And Blue. Most of the evening’s performers joined McCollum at centre stage, singing along, full of smiles and embracing one another. 

“Never apologize for being patriotic” was the last thing Keith would say at the end of his shows, and this tribute was no different. His friends, family, and industry colleagues honoured that legacy tenfold.

A portion of the ticket sales from the Toby Keith: An American Icon concert will benefit The Toby Keith Foundation’s OK Kids Korral, a cost-free home for families of children dealing with critical illnesses, and Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, one of the nation’s leading children’s hospitals.

Toby Keith: American Icon was filmed live and will air on NBC on Wednesday, August 28, from 9 to 11 p.m. ET/PT.