The familiar maxim of the triple threat - singer, songwriter, musician - doesn't begin to cover it for Toby Keith, one of the modern era's most complete self-directed hit makers. And Keith's most recent months are a remarkably accurate representation of his entire career. At the close of 2018, he celebrated the 25th anniversary of his debut No. 1 single, "Should've Been A Cowboy" with the re-release of his debut album (remastered with the addition of three vault tracks), a week of events in Nashville including a BMI event to commemorate the milestone, two shows at the historic Grand Ole Opry, and a performance at the Nashville Symphony Ball where he received the prestigious Harmony Award. Keith also released a new song, "Don't Let The Old Man In," which was inspired by a conversation he had with Clint Eastwood and was later featured in Eastwood's movie, "The Mule." Rounding out the year full of music-related accomplishments was his 15th Annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic which raised more than $1 million, bringing the annual event's total funds raised to $12.4 million, to support the charitable endeavors of The Toby Keith Foundation which includes aiding sick children and their families in Oklahoma.
Toby also honored the 25th anniversary of the release of his debut single with his aptly-named tour "Should've Been A Cowboy XXV Tour." From the moment that song was released and shot up the charts to become his first No. 1, the engine driving everything has been the music. He writes it. He arranges and produces it. And he releases it on his own record label, Show Dog Nashville. At the core is his songwriting, as recognized in his 2015 induction into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame in New York City. That year Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, Willie Dixon, and other songwriters from all genres of music were also included in his induction class. The Nashville Songwriters Association International named him Songwriter/Artist of the Decade and he is a three-time BMI Country Songwriter/Artist of the Year. His songs have received more than 92 million BMI performances on commercial radio stations worldwide, making him the organization's top country songwriter in terrestrial country radio. Keith's albums have sold more than 40 million copies. His tours have drawn more than a million fans each year for more than a decade straight, with recent expansion into Europe and Australia. The awards are too numerous to count and include Artist of the Decade nods from Billboard and the American Country Awards, as well as the ACM's Career Achievement honor, Poet's Award recipient, and twice their Entertainer of the Year award winner in back-to-back years. A musician's musician, he was a last minute illness stand-in for the late Merle Haggard a few years back and responded to Merle's query about which of the legend's songs Keith knew and could cover with, "All of 'em." And there have been some unexpected highlights along the way as well, including country's most impactful viral event, "Red Solo Cup," the video for which has received more than 50 million views and was named ACM Video of the Year. Outside of music, his successes carry through to business endeavors including Wild Shot, his premium mezcal liquor products, and I Love This Bar and Grill restaurants including the original location which has been operating for more than a decade on the famed Las Vegas Strip. Toby's most rewarding experiences, however, have come from giving back locally, nationally and abroad. His golf classics fund The Toby Keith Foundation 2 and OK Kids Korral, a cost-free home for families of children dealing with critical illnesses. His 11 USO Tours to date have enhanced the lives of nearly 256,000 troops and military families in 18 countries with more than 285 events, and have been recognized with the Spirit of the USO Award (2014). Many songs Keith has written while on the USO Tours for the military are featured on his 2017 album The Bus Songs, a 12-song collection of humorous, just-for-fun compositions that set a Billboard Comedy Albums chart record for a country artist by holding the No. 1 spot for 11 consecutive weeks. And when a tornado ravaged his hometown, Toby Keith was the face of the community and helped shoulder the cleanup with the 2013 OK Twister Relief Concert. Triple threat? How about singer, songwriter, musician, producer, entertainer, humanitarian, Oklahoman and patriot. For starters.
Toby also honored the 25th anniversary of the release of his debut single with his aptly-named tour "Should've Been A Cowboy XXV Tour." From the moment that song was released and shot up the charts to become his first No. 1, the engine driving everything has been the music. He writes it. He arranges and produces it. And he releases it on his own record label, Show Dog Nashville. At the core is his songwriting, as recognized in his 2015 induction into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame in New York City. That year Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, Willie Dixon, and other songwriters from all genres of music were also included in his induction class. The Nashville Songwriters Association International named him Songwriter/Artist of the Decade and he is a three-time BMI Country Songwriter/Artist of the Year. His songs have received more than 92 million BMI performances on commercial radio stations worldwide, making him the organization's top country songwriter in terrestrial country radio. Keith's albums have sold more than 40 million copies. His tours have drawn more than a million fans each year for more than a decade straight, with recent expansion into Europe and Australia. The awards are too numerous to count and include Artist of the Decade nods from Billboard and the American Country Awards, as well as the ACM's Career Achievement honor, Poet's Award recipient, and twice their Entertainer of the Year award winner in back-to-back years. A musician's musician, he was a last minute illness stand-in for the late Merle Haggard a few years back and responded to Merle's query about which of the legend's songs Keith knew and could cover with, "All of 'em." And there have been some unexpected highlights along the way as well, including country's most impactful viral event, "Red Solo Cup," the video for which has received more than 50 million views and was named ACM Video of the Year. Outside of music, his successes carry through to business endeavors including Wild Shot, his premium mezcal liquor products, and I Love This Bar and Grill restaurants including the original location which has been operating for more than a decade on the famed Las Vegas Strip. Toby's most rewarding experiences, however, have come from giving back locally, nationally and abroad. His golf classics fund The Toby Keith Foundation 2 and OK Kids Korral, a cost-free home for families of children dealing with critical illnesses. His 11 USO Tours to date have enhanced the lives of nearly 256,000 troops and military families in 18 countries with more than 285 events, and have been recognized with the Spirit of the USO Award (2014). Many songs Keith has written while on the USO Tours for the military are featured on his 2017 album The Bus Songs, a 12-song collection of humorous, just-for-fun compositions that set a Billboard Comedy Albums chart record for a country artist by holding the No. 1 spot for 11 consecutive weeks. And when a tornado ravaged his hometown, Toby Keith was the face of the community and helped shoulder the cleanup with the 2013 OK Twister Relief Concert. Triple threat? How about singer, songwriter, musician, producer, entertainer, humanitarian, Oklahoman and patriot. For starters.