Oklahoma legend Toby Keith inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame

Country music legend Toby Keith officially will remain amongst the greats after a star-studded posthumous induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday evening.

Shortly after Keith's death on Feb. 5, it was announced that he would be welcomed into the Hall of Fame. However, he was elected to the honor before his death.

"It makes a huge difference to us that the voting concluded, and it was already set before he passed away," Krystal Keith , his younger daughter and fellow singer-songwriter, told The Oklahoman.

Keith was inducted into the Modern Era Artist category of the Hall of Fame.

More: 'Legendary status forever:' Toby Keith's daughter talks on his Country Music Hall of Fame induction

Inductor and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young described the Clinton-born icon as a "thrilling" and "uncompromising" artist who "embodied every song he sang."

At the ceremony, Post Malone performed Keith's 2001 song "I'm Just Talking About Tonight," which received a standing ovation from the audience. Other of Keith's peers also performed in his honor, with Eric Church and Blake Shelton performing "Don't Let The Old Man In," the last song Keith performed live, and a medley of "I Love This Bar" and "Red Solo Cup."

Keith was already a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Oklahoma Hall of Fame and Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame . Keith died Feb. 5 at age 62 after a multiyear battle with stomach cancer .

Keith's plaque will remain in the rotunda alongside those of other country music greats like Hank Williams, Mother Maybelle Carter and Merle Haggard.

"I'm really excited. We've always had a great relationship with the Hall of Fame, and he's had exhibits ... there in the past," Krystal Keith said. "It's really bittersweet. It's one of those things that I wish he were here to accept and to be aware of."

Keith was inducted alongside John Anderson and James Burton into the now 155-member Hall of Fame.

“This year’s nominees exemplify the excellence of our genre,” Country Music Association Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern said in an email. “James, John and Toby have each made an indelible impact and brought their distinctive contributions to country music, enriching our format. Their influence is evident throughout the longevity of their careers, ensuring each legacy will thrive indefinitely. It is with great pride that we welcome these three remarkable individuals into the esteemed ranks of the Country Music Hall of Fame.”

“One of the most successful country artists of his generation, Toby Keith balanced his innate brashness and bravado with a sly wit, a talent for catchy melodies, and a cowboy poet’s flair for concise wordplay and colorful imagery," Michael McCall, associate director of editorial for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, said in a statement to The Oklahoman.

"His rich, instantly recognizable baritone also set him apart, especially in the way he shifted between a conversational tone and muscular theatricality to bring out the drama in his songs."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma legend Toby Keith inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame