On July 29, Luke Bryan delivered an incredible performance at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. He was one of many country music icons who performed tributes to the late Toby Keith for the ABC special Toby Keith: American Icon.
It was quite the celebration of the late country singer’s life and charity efforts. For Luke Bryan, the event brought to mind memories of someone that he had also once lost. That would be his sister, Kelly.
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The History of Luke Bryan’s Sister and Her Tragic Death
You can watch Luke Bryan talk about his sister at Toby Keith: American Icon in the Instagram video (with captions) below:
When Bryan took the stage on July 29 in his signature baseball hat, he quickly removed it; it’s become such a staple of his stage presence that it’s surprising he even remembered it was there. After removing the hat, he beelined to the side of the stage. When he returned, he held a traditional black cowboy hat in his hands. And the story behind that hat is quite heartbreaking.
“This hat has been hanging in my closet for probably 15 years,” Bryan said into the mic. “My sister down in Georgia, when I was playing bars and doing about 10 Toby Keith songs a night, my sister bought me this hat.”
The small tribute to his sister was bittersweet. Bryan’s sister, Kelly, passed away from unknown causes in 2007. According to Bryan himself, no autopsy or coroner could figure out what caused her to suddenly perish while at home with her three-year-old child. The sudden death, coupled with no answers, left a confusing hole in his heart.
[See Luke Bryan Live In Concert]
“I used to wear this hat every night,” Bryan continued on stage, donning his sister’s gift. “Ever since I lost my sister, I haven’t worn this hat on stage in a lot of years. […] I was walking out of the house and thought, I’m just an ol’ country boy from Georgia, but Toby Keith certainly made me want to be a cowboy. I am going to be a cowboy tonight.”
After putting on his sister’s black cowboy hat, Bryan proceeded to cover Toby Keith’s hit song “Should’ve Been A Cowboy”.
The event featured even more emotional sets, notably from Keith’s own daughter, Krystal Keith. She performed a rendition of her father’s song “Don’t Let The Old Man In”, which also happens to be the last song that Keith performed in front of cameras.
Photo by Stephen Lovekin
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