During the Academy of Country Music Awards last night, Jason Aldean paid a touching tribute to the late great country music star Toby Keith. This came after Keith tragically died of stomach cancer back in February at the age of 62.
Shelton Introduces Keith Tribute
Blake Shelton, who was a close personal friend of Keith’s, took the stage to introduce Aldean before he performed an emotional rendition of the late singer’s hit song “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.”
Shelton told the crowd that he was, “Heartbroken and honored to be standing here tonight to remember a man who became one of the biggest country music stars of all time, the late great Toby Keith.”
Shelton, 47, went on to describe Keith as a a “big star in every way,” boasting about his career accolades that saw him win “44 million albums, 33 number one hits, and 14 ACM awards.” However, he added that Keith was “more than that,” as he was also a proud family man who loved his wife Trisha and their three children.
“Toby was a great friend to me and he was a real straight shooter who was larger than life and he always would shoot you straight, right to the very end of his brave ride that ended way too soon,” he concluded.
Aldean Performs Keith Tribute
Aldean then took the stage to perform Keith’s song “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.” This was arguably Keith’s biggest hit, as it was the most played country music song of the 1990s with over 3 million radio plays.
“Love you, Toby,” Aldean said at the conclusion of the performance.
“Toby, we’ll never forget you,” host Reba McEntire, 69, added as she returned to the stage. “And I kind of feel like you’re here with us tonight anyway.”
Entertainment Tonight reported that Keith’s wife, sisters, and children were seen being brought to tears by Aldean’s performance.
Check out the powerful tribute in the video below.
Related: Jason Aldean To Honor Toby Keith At ACM Awards Tonight
Aldean Inspired By Keith
Before the ACM Awards, Aldean talked about how “inspiring” Keith was to him personally.
“I think he was a guy that a lot of us looked up to,” Aldean, 47, told Fox News of himself and his fellow country music stars.
Aldean went on to explain that he loved that Keith was someone who “always spoke his mind,” even if it meant saying something that would get him in trouble.
“That was something to me that was always inspiring, as far as like, ‘Hey, you can still be an artist and be true to who you are and go out and not be afraid to speak out,'” Aldean said.
Aldean believes that Keith wanted others to “stand up for what you believe in” and “be who you are and be unapologetic about it.”
Watch Aldean gush over Keith before his death in the video below.
Keith’s History
Keith was one of the most beloved country music stars in the world, with his other hits including “I Love This Bar,” “As Good as I Once Was,” “Beer for My Horses” and “How Do You Like Me Now?!”
He sadly revealed his stomach cancer diagnosis to the world back in June of 2022. Unfortunately, he lost his battle with the disease on February 5.
Keith was a true legend, and there will never be another one like him. God bless Aldean, Shelton, and everyone at the ACM Awards for giving him the sendoff that he deserves!
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