The 2024 CMT Awards were a bittersweet occasion this year as those in attendance celebrated the latest feats in country music and mourned the loss of one of the genre’s giants, Toby Keith. In honor of the late singer’s memory, Sunday’s ceremony featured a tribute performance dedicated to his greatest works.
Keith died on February 5. He announced in June 2022 that he was diagnosed with stomach cancer at the end of 2021. By the end of the year, he called the battle “pretty debilitating.” Keith was 62 when he died in his sleep and his passing has been mourned by fans from all walks of life. Here is how the CMT Music Awards celebrated his legacy.
The CMT Awards pay tribute to Toby Keith with a moving performance
Moody Center in Austin, Texas hosted this year’s CMT Music Awards and the highlight of the evening was the tribute to Keith, to which multiple artists contributed to in various ways. Among the artists were Sammy Hager, Brooks & Dunn, Lainey Wilson, and more.
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Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn kicked off the tribute performance with their interpretation of “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.” Next up was Sammy Hagar, who was decked out in an attire that was from Keith’s merchandise line, according to PEOPLE. In addition to musical moments, Hagar also reminisced during his tribute on partying with Keith, with the two eventually getting kicked out of Keith’s own establishment, I Love This Bar & Grill.
There wasn’t a dry eye on the property
The night was emotionally charged for everyone in attendance, from members of the industry to Keith’s children. The “Don’t Let The Old Man In” singer was a father to three: Stelen, Shelley, and Krystal. They grew visibly emotional, especially from the fond words by MLB player Roger Clemens, who was a longtime friend of Keith.
He remembered Keith as “a friend, patriot and great American” who “sense of humor and his wit” even after his harrowing diagnosis. “A perfect example of it, my two boys, who played baseball right here at the University of Texas,” Clemens recalled, “they were in Oklahoma playing the Sooners at [University of Oklahoma], Toby’s university.”
He continued, “Toby told my boys, ‘If you get a home run off our Oklahoma pitcher today, I’ll sit on your dugout and I’ll sing the ‘The Eyes of Texas’ with you. Well, guess what? It happened and, true to form, Toby sat on the dugout and with his funny and wit, sang, ‘I’ve been working on the railroad.’ No chance was he going to sing ‘The Eyes of Texas.'”
To them, he said “Thank you for sharing your dad with all of us. Thank you. Trish, we love you. Thank you for sharing your husband with the world, Trish. Thank you.” Clemens was also sure to raise a distinctly red, probably Solo, cup in salute to Keith, in reference to his iconic anthem.
Which was your favorite part of the tribute portion of the evening?