Tributes to the late country star Toby Keith will be featured in a Nashville concert special called “Toby Keith: American Icon.” One performance, in particular, is expected to resonate with fans across the nation. Krystal Keith, daughter of the legendary musician, delivered an emotional rendition of “Don’t Let the Old Man In” during the concert. The event was filmed in July before a sold-out crowd.
For Krystal, this performance held deep significance as she aimed to honor her father and make him proud. She admitted that singing this song was challenging due to its emotional nature. However, she expressed gratitude for being given the opportunity and believed that her father would have been proud of her rendition.
The song holds special meaning as it was the last one performed by Toby Keith before his passing from stomach cancer earlier this year. While it may have been difficult for Krystal and her family to participate in this concert while still grieving their loss, they felt it was important to remember Toby Keith for both his musical talent and his character.
Krystal described how the stage setup reflected who he was as a person—featuring a bar on stage, a large American flag backdrop, and involvement from military personnel. These elements represented his love for family, music, his foundation work, and support for the military.
Listening to Toby Keith’s music has been instrumental in helping Krystal and her family through their grieving process. She shared how country singer Ashley Campbell’s perspective on having her father’s body of work brought gratitude into focus for Krystal.
The two-hour special will also include performances by other famous artists such as Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan singing some of Toby Keith’s biggest hits with their own personal touch. Despite being humble about receiving such recognition after his passing, Krystal believes that he would be honored by these artists’ participation.
A portion of ticket sales from the event will go towards The Toby Keith Foundation’s OK Kids Korral—a haven for families with children undergoing cancer treatments—and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt—one of America’s leading children’s hospitals.
Krystal often thinks about her father and wishes she could tell him that their family is doing well. She believes he already knew they would be okay but finds comfort in knowing he is aware of their progress.
“Toby Keith: American Icon” will stream on Peacock on August 29th following its airing on NBC Wednesday night.
