Toby Keith’s Daughter Krystal Pays Tribute to Her Father One Year After His Death
On the one-year anniversary of the death of Country Music Hall of Famer Toby Keith, his daughter Krystal Keith is paying tribute to her late father.
“It feels like yesterday we said goodbye and yet it somehow has also been the longest year without him,” Keith wrote on her Instagram page, captioning a carousel of photos of her father with his family through the years.
“I can’t help but find gratitude in all the time we had because we did all of life as a family unit. It’s hard to find a candid picture where he doesn’t have one of our babies in his arms. He was their favorite, and they were his. Our littles miss their buddy big time but we all know we will see him again someday. Until then, he will watch over us and walk beside us,” she wrote, adding, “Every sunset (and he LOOOOVED his sunsets) is a reminder that he wants us to live our best life and do good in the world. So that’s exactly is what we will do.”
Keith died Feb. 5, 2024, at age 62 following a battle with stomach cancer. During his career, he earned 20 Billboard No. 1 Country Airplay hits, starting with 1993’s “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.” Songs including “How Do You Like Me Now?!” and his 9/11 response “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” also crossed over to the pop chart. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2021. Also among his many accolades, Keith earned the Academy of Country Music’s entertainer of the year honor twice, and the ACM’s album of the year award for How Do You Like Me Now?! and Shock N’ Y’all. Keith launched a range of business ventures, including founding the label Show Dog Nashville, as well as the restaurant chain I Love This Bar and Grill and his Wild Shot Mezcal. Keith was also known for his fierce dedication to supporting the U.S. military, and for helping sick children and their families through The Toby Keith Foundation and the OK Kids Korral.
Members of Keith’s team also released a statement reflecting on Keith’s life and career on the one-year anniversary of his death.
“We can’t believe it’s been a year since the world lost Toby,” the statement read. “We have a hole in our heart and our lives. The love and support from the community that Toby created has left us all thankful and grateful. It has and continues to honor Toby. We know he would be proud of the legacy he left behind. Today we hope you will celebrate and listen to his music with us, where we know he is smiling down and raising his cup. A toast to a life well lived.”
In August, NBC aired the special Toby Keith: American Icon, which saw artists including Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Carrie Underwood and Darius Rucker paying homage to Keith.
Jessica Nicholson
Billboard
