The late country music star Toby Keith, who died back in February at the age of 62 after a lengthy battle with stomach cancer, was honored at the CMT Music Awards on Sunday night in a truly beautiful way.
Keith Honored At CMT Music Awards
Daily Mail reported that part of the tribute was inspired by Keith’s 2011 hit song “Red Solo Cup,” and it saw Keith’s family and friends take the stage holding red solo cups in his honor. The two-time World Series champion pitcher Roger Clemens led the tribute, describing Keith as “a friend, patriot and great American’ before thanking the late singer’s wife Tricia Lucas and their children for “sharing” him with the world.
“Thank you for sharing your dad with all of us – thank you,” Clemens said. “Trish, we love you. Thank you for sharing your husband with the world, Trish. Thank you.”
“Alright, real quick: Raise ’em up,” he added. “Everybody at home, raise your fist if you don’t have a Solo cup. Let Toby hear you. Repeat after me, ‘Whiskey for my men,’ and, ‘Beer for my horses” – let’s go!'”
Social media users were incredibly touched by this tribute to Keith.
“That Toby tribute … those red solo cups had me in shambles,” one user commented, with another adding, “As a life long Toby Keith fan that tribute was absolutely beautiful.”
“The fact that everybody was raising red solo cups for the life of @tobykeith was incredibly appropriate, since Toby himself did have a crossover hit about the titular red solo cup,” a third user wrote. A fourth person commented, “Seeing his babies made it even more special. Thank you for sharing him with us Shelley, Krystal, and Stelen. We miss you Toby.”
Related: Toby Keith Dead At 62
More Tributes For Keith
Sammy Hagar honored Keith by performing his 2003 hit “I Love this Bar,” and he remembered the fun times they had together before he broke into the song.
“Toby and I, we spent a lot of time in Cabo together over the years,” he said. “I mean we closed the Cabo Wabo down a lot more times than we even remember. It’s hard to get thrown out of your own bar, and we managed to do that.”
Lukas Nelson, the 35 year-old son of the legendary Willie Nelson, said that Keith “was not a shy guy” and “had a big personality.”
Nelson went on to say that he met Keith “when he was working on” his 2008 film Beer For My Horses.
“I got lucky I got the opportunity to watch his artistry in person,” Nelson recalled.
Later in the show, Lainey Wilson paid tribute to Keith by performing his 1999 song “How Do You Like Me Now?!”
“I don’t know anybody in this business that doesn’t love Toby,” Wilson told Fox News on the red carpet.
“He was truly the soundtrack to my childhood,” she added. “Seeing all of his stuff and all the visions that he had come to life, it made me feel like there’s nothing wrong with being fearless, there’s nothing wrong with going against the grain and standing up for what you believe in and being unapologetically yourself.”
Keith’s Death
Fans were devastated when Keith’s family announced his passing two months ago.
“Toby Keith passed peacefully last night on Feb. 5 surrounded by his family,” their statement read. “He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”
Keith was a true legend, and there will never be another one like him. Please say a prayer for his family and friends as they continue to mourn him.
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