To attend a collaborative concert and see two powerful artists performing is extraordinary. But it is something else to see a candid video of two music icons sing together in a casual environment, less colleagues and more friends. That’s exactly what resurfaced footage shows happen between Toby Keith and the late Merle Haggard while on tour.
Keith, 62, has been active since ’93 and is known for a solid debut with “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” along with “Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue.” Meanwhile, between the ’60s and ’80s, Haggard had 38 number-one hits on the US country charts and had been inducted into several music Halls of Fame. Near the end of Haggard’s life, he had a meaningful near-final performance with Keith. Check it out below.
Merle Haggard and Toby Keith singing on a tour bus
Years ago, Haggard and Keith found themselves on Keith’s tour bus with Scott Emerick, leading up to a CMT special. Footage has resurfaced showing the trio singing together, crooning out Haggard’s “I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am” and “It’s All in the Movies,” among other greatest hits by the country artist.
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In addition to some fun singing sessions that don’t happen every day, viewers also get treated to seeing Haggard, Emerick, and Keith just enjoying themselves together. As Country Rebel notes, moments like these are made all the more poignant with the passing of 2016, making times like these between friends limited and special.
Haggard is mourned by fans and by friends
A legend in country music history, Merle Haggard died on April 6, 2016, after suffering from double pneumonia; he was 79 when he died. Tributes poured out from throughout the world of country music – and one of his final memories involved Toby Keith.
Haggard had been battling pneumonia for two months and his doctors desperately wanted him to slow down. However, by that point, Haggard had commitments he wanted to see through, including a show on February 6, 2016.
But Haggard had felt the brunt of his condition that night and during the performance, he started running out of breath right there on stage. Keith was there and Haggard had asked if he could help out and he did just that. When Keith joined Haggard in singing on stage, picking up where the breathless Haggard left off, fans were able to enjoy the night of fun.
That show was one of Haggard’s last.