A special charity concert held in Nashville, TN, on Monday, July 29, celebrated the life and legacy of country music star Toby Keith. The event, titled Toby Keith: American Icon, was a heartfelt tribute featuring some of country music’s biggest names, including Carrie Underwood, Lainey Wilson, Luke Bryan, Jelly Roll, and Eric Church.
The concert was not only a way to honor Toby Keith’s tremendous impact on country music but also served a great cause. It raised funds for The Toby Keith Foundation’s OK Kids Korral, which provides a free place to stay for families with children undergoing cancer treatment. The event also supported the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, showing the deep commitment to helping others that Toby Keith championed throughout his life.
The night was filled with touching performances and moving speeches. One of the most emotional moments came when Toby Keith’s daughter, Krystal, took the stage to sing the heartfelt ballad “Don’t Let The Old Man In.” Her performance added a deeply personal touch to the tribute.
A standout feature of the evening was the premiere of previously unseen footage from Toby Keith’s final recording session. Before his death from stomach cancer, Toby Keith recorded a cover of Joe Diffie’s classic “Ships That Don’t Come In” with artist Luke Combs. This track was part of HIXTAPE Vol. 3: DIFFTAPE, an album celebrating Joe Diffie’s music. The album combined 2006 recordings of Diffie’s hits with new takes by some of country music’s top stars.
The footage from Toby Keith’s last studio session provided a rare and emotional glimpse into his final work. The song “Ships That Don’t Come In” was released on March 29, just after Toby’s passing. Unfortunately, he never had the chance to perform it live. The tribute concert allowed fans to experience a piece of his final recording, bringing a sense of closure and connection to his remarkable career.
You can watch the touching footage of Toby Keith recording “Ships That Don’t Come In” in the video below.
