‘Toby Keith: American Icon’ Allowed the Late Superstar to Gather One Last Massive Audience

Last month, Toby Keith: American Icon aired on NBC. The two-hour concert special brought some of the biggest artists in country music together at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee to celebrate the life and legacy of Toby Keith. The 20,000-seat arena was packed on the night of the concert. However, that audience paled in comparison to the number of fans who tuned in across the country to watch the tribute show.

According to press materials, the tribute concert drew 4.7 million viewers. This includes the initial broadcast on August 28 as well as the encore stream on Peacock the next day. It was NBC’s biggest primetime entertainment special of 2024. More impressively, Toby Keith: American Icon sits among the top ten broadcasts of the year across the board.

[RELATED: The Best Performances From ‘Toby Keith: American Icon’ Tribute Concert; How To Watch the Full Show]

The concert special was the No. 1 show on August 28. Much of the audience started by watching America’s Got Talent. However, the viewership grew 10% in the opening minutes of the tribute show. In short, millions of Americans tuned in to see country’s brightest stars give a loving tribute to the late legend.

Why Toby Keith: American Icon Was a Hit

The draw of the Toby Keith tribute show was two-fold for many country fans. First and foremost, Keith was a beloved artist who made a massive impact on the genre. Fans wanted to tune in to support the late hitmaker one last time. Additionally, the lineup was packed with A-list artists who delivered unforgettable performances. For instance, Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, Ashley McBryde, Clay Walker, Jamey Johnson, and more performed some of Keith’s biggest hits during the show.

Seeing those artists pay tribute to Keith was moving. However, the many of the highlights of the evening involved the Keith family. Toby Keith’s widow and children featured heavily in the show. They shared memories of their late patriarch and more. His daughter Krystal Keith took the stage to perform “Don’t Let the Old Man In” and brought the crowd—and those watching at home—to tears with her loving tribute.

Throughout his life and career, Keith drew huge crowds and delivered hit after hit. In a sense, he was able to do it one more time through the artists who gathered to honor him that night.

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