Country legend Toby Keith was honored at the Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday night by his friend and fellow country artist Jason Aldean in a performance of Keith's “Should've Been a Cowboy” that brought tears to the eyes. multitude of stars.
Blake Shelton, who introduced Aldean before taking the stage, said he was “heartbroken” by Keith's death in February following a battle with stomach cancer at age 62.
The country music star announced his diagnosis in June 2022.
Shelton said he was “heartbroken and honored to be here tonight to remember a man who became one of the biggest country music stars of all time, the late, great Toby Keith.”
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Jason Aldean paid tribute to Toby Keith on Thursday night. (Erika Goldring/Getty Images for BMI)
He continued: “Toby was a huge star in every way. He sold more than 44 million albums, 33 number one hits and 14 ACM Awards, including artist of the year, but in the end, the mark Toby left was much greater. “. more than that. Toby was a loving husband to his beautiful wife Trisha. He was a proud father to all three of his children.”
He added that everyone was “very honored and touched” to have Keith's widow, Trisha, and their children in the audience.
“Toby was a great friend to me and was a real outspoken man who was larger than life and always shot straight, until the end of his brave journey that ended too soon.”
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Jason Aldean performing Toby Keith's “I Shoulda Been a Cowboy” at the Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday. (Rich Polk/Penske Media via Getty Images)
Aldean, who told Fox News Digital that Keith was “inspirational” to him, simply said, “I love you, Toby” at the end of his performance of the 1993 hit that brought the excited crowd to its feet.
“Toby, we will never forget you,” host Reba McEntire added as she returned to the stage. “And anyway I feel like you're here with us tonight.”
Before the show, Aldean told Fox News Digital: “I think he was a guy that a lot of us looked up to” in the business.
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“For me, personally, he was a guy that I feel like…always said what he thought,” he added. “He said what he thought, whether it was popular opinion or not. And it wasn't like that, you know, it didn't always go well for him, and he didn't care. I mean, it was something that he did feel strongly about and he felt like it was something he that I believed, that I was going to say what I thought.
“For me, on a personal level, that was something that was always inspiring, to the extent that, 'Hey, you can still be an artist and be true to who you are and go out there and not be afraid to speak up.'” 'And I think that was something that was always with me.”
The best advice Keith gave Aldean was “never apologize for being patriotic.”
TOBY KEITH REMEMBERED AS 'EMCARNATION OF THE AMERICAN SPIRIT' BY HIS SON
“Just don't be afraid to speak your mind, stand up for what you believe in,” he explained. “Whether other people agree or not, be who you are and don't regret it. And I think that's pretty good advice.”
Toby Keith lost his battle with cancer in February. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Keith was best known for “I Shoulda Been a Cowboy.” The tune became the most played country song of the 1990s, as it was played on the radio 3 million times.
The artist's other big hits included “I Love This Bar,” “As Good as I Once Was,” “Beer for My Horses,” and “How Do You Like Me Now?!”
Over the course of his career, Keith received seven Grammy nominations and was named artist of the year multiple times at the Academy of Country Music Awards. The country music star won a total of 14 ACM Awards, including best male vocalist and album of the year.
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Keith released his latest album in 2021, “Peso in my Pocket.” The singer continued to perform after being diagnosed with cancer and took the stage for the last time in December.
Fox News' Lauryn Overhultz and Larry Fink contributed to this report.
