Last night (July 29), some of the biggest names in country music came together at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena for Toby Keith: American Icon. The night was packed with A-list country stars singing some of Keith’s biggest hits and sharing their fond memories of the Oklahoma native. While the event had its somber moments, most of the night was a party just like one would think he would have wanted.
Those who weren’t able to attend the tribute concert are in luck. It will air on NBC later this summer. For now, though, fan-shot videos of the night’s performances are floating around the internet. As a result, fans who didn’t catch the show last night will be able to see highlights of the action before watching the two-hour special when it airs. Below are clips from four of the best performances of the evening.
Videos by American Songwriter
[RELATED: Jamey Johnson, Scotty Emerick, and More Added to ‘Toby Keith: American Icon’ Lineup—How To Watch]
Ashley McBryde Performs Toby Keith’s Early Hit “Wish I Didn’t Know Now”
Toby Keith has plenty of rocking party tracks in his discography. However, he also knew how to write a heartbreak song with the best of them. “Wish I Didn’t Know Now” is evidence of that. Keith wrote the song and released it as the fourth and final single from his self-titled debut album in 1994. It peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Watch a clip of Ashley McBryde doing the song justice below.
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Ashley McBryde pays tribute to Toby Keith singing “Wish I Didn’t Know Now” in Nashville at Toby Keith American Icon. #ashleymcbryde #ashleymcbrydemusic #tobykeith #tobykeithtribute #countrymusic #countrymusictiktoks #tobykeithtributeconcert #nashville #nashvilletn @Ashley McBryde
♬ original sound – thetraveladdict
Lainey Wilson and Jamey Johnson Join Forces on “Beer for My Horses”
Penned by Toby Keith and his longtime collaborator Scotty Emerick, “Beer for My Horses” was a No. 1 hit and a duet with Willie Nelson. A song about the law of the Old West, whiskey, and horses was the perfect fit for Keith and Nelson. Last night, Lainey Wilson and Jamey Johnson stepped into those big shoes to deliver an unforgettable duet of their own.
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Lainey Wilson and Jamey Johnson pay tribute to Toby Keith singing “Beer For My Horses” in Nashville at Toby Keith American Icon. #laineywilson #tobykeith #tobykeithtribute #countrymusic #countrymusictiktoks #tobykeithtributeconcert #nashville #nashvilletn #beerformyhorses #willienelson #jameyjohnson #country @Lainey Wilson
♬ original sound – thetraveladdict
Jordan Davis and Clay Walker Nail “I Love This Bar”
Another No. 1 hit penned by the unstoppable team of Toby Keith and Scotty Emerick, “I Love This Bar” dominated the radio when it came out as the lead single from Keith’s album Shock’n Y’all.
In many ways, Keith served as a bridge between ‘90s country and modern country. So, it was only fitting to have both generations of the genre represented with the collaboration between Jordan Davis and Clay Walker.
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Jordan Davis and Clay Walker pay tribute to Toby Keith singing “I Love This Bar” in Nashville at Toby Keith American Icon. #jordandavis #tobykeith #tobykeithtribute #countrymusic #countrymusictiktoks #tobykeithtributeconcert #nashville #nashvilletn #claywalker @Clay Walker @jordandavis
♬ original sound – thetraveladdict
Toby Keith’s Daughter, Krystal Delivers an Emotional “Don’t Let the Old Man In”
“Don’t Let the Old Man In” wasn’t a big hit for Keith when he released it in 2019. Then, in 2023, he performed it at the People’s Choice Country Awards and breathed new life into it. It was one of the first performances after receiving his cancer diagnosis. More importantly, knowing that he was in a fight for his life made the song hit differently for many fans.
Last night, Krystal Keith took the Bridgestone Arena stage to perform the heartfelt song. Likely, there wasn’t a single dry eye in the arena when she finished her rendition of the song. Get the tissues and check out her stellar performance below.
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Krystal Keith pays tribute to her father Toby Keith singing “Don’t Let The Old Man In” in Nashville at Toby Keith American Icon. #krystalkeith #tobykeith #tobykeithtribute #countrymusic #countrymusictiktoks #tobykeithtributeconcert #nashville #nashvilletn #father #fatherdaughter
♬ original sound – thetraveladdict
How to Watch Toby Keith: American Icon
Those who didn’t make it to the Bridgestone Arena last night will have to wait a few weeks to watch the show in its entirety. Toby Keith: American Icon will air on NBC on Wednesday, August 28 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. The two-hour event will be available to stream on-demand on Peacock the next day.
Featured Image by Debby Wong
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