Trace Adkins Pays Emotional Tribute To Toby Keith With Moving “American Soldier” Cover

Toby Keith’s unwavering support for the U.S. military was well documented. However, he avoided putting the men and women in uniform on a pedestal. The Oklahoma native penned his 2003 hit “American Soldier” with the mission of humanizing the person beneath the helmet. Trace Adkins performed the song at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena in his late friend’s memory. And as the “You’re Gonna Miss This” singer took the stage, he imparted some wisdom from the Big Dog Daddy himself.

Trace Adkins: “I Was Proud To Have Known” Toby Keith

Toby Keith died in February at age 62 after battling stomach cancer for more than two years. Five months later, Trace Adkins was among a slew of Nashville A-listers who packed Bridgestone Arena for the two-hour NBC special Toby Keith: An American Icon.

[RELATED: Watch Toby Keith’s Final Recording Session in Never-Before-Seen Footage]

Adkins wiped his eyes on his suit sleeve before beginning “American Soldier.” Sepia-toned images of Keith interacting with U.S. troops played onscreen behind the “Ladies Love Country Boys” hitmaker as he sang. I don’t do it for the money / There’s bills that I can’t pay / I don’t do it for the glory / I just do it anyway.

Before beginning his performance of “American Soldier,” Trace Adkins reminded the crowd of his late friend’s undying national pride. Before exiting the stage after a show, Keith always left his audience with the same message: “Never apologize for being patriotic.” And it wasn’t just lip service, Adkins said.

“By God, he believed that,” said the 62-year-old Louisiana native. “The love and respect that he had for the men and women that served this country—it was marrow deep; it was profound; it was genuine; it was real.”

“I could talk all night about Toby,” Adkins continued, “but I’m just going to say that I was proud to have known him and called him a friend. Thanks Dog. We miss you.”

Toby Keith Was Always “Throwing Junk and Talking Smack”

Trace Adkins toured with Toby Keith multiple times, most recently on 2009’s America’s Toughest Tour. The ACM Award winner remembered his friend and tourmate’s “dry, kind of sneaky wit.”

“He was throwing junk and talking smack, and he was just a lot of fun to be around and I enjoyed it.” Adkins told Country Now.

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