Toby Keith’s 10 Best Songs: Critic’s Picks

Toby Keith came out from nowhere to become one of the major success stories of country music in 1993 with his debut single “Should’ve Been A Cowboy.” The singer rode in from Oklahoma armed with some of the strongest material that Nashville had seen in quite some time. That helped his self-titled album to be certified platinum – a sure sign of what was to come in his career.

In the three decades that have passed since that debut, Keith provided fans with songs to fit just about every emotion – love, happiness, pain, loss and even a little bit of rage at a time when others in the United States were feeling the same emotion.

In 2021, Keith was diagnosed with stomach cancer. “Last fall I was diagnosed with stomach cancer,” Keith tweeted in 2022. “I’ve spent the last 6 months receiving chemo, radiation and surgery. So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover and relax. I am looking forward to spending time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can’t wait.”

On Feb. 6, a statement on his official website announced the sad news that Keith had passed away at age 62. “Toby Keith passed peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family. He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”

Here are 10 times that Toby Keith has tapped into the American consciousness with some of his best songs.

Editor’s note: A version of this article was originally published in 2017.