The newly released video is similar to footage included in the "Toby Keith: American Icon" special, which is streaming on Peacock following its Aug. 28 premiere on NBC.
"They did not warn us ... they played that right before my sister had to talk, and I was over ready to go on stage," she said. "We're both crying right as we're both having to walk out on stage. So, I think it was like a connective, 'Oh crap, we both have to do this.' But we had each other the whole night ... and really got to enjoy it together and be in that moment together."
What tribute project features Toby Keith's heartfelt cover of 'Ships That Don't Come In?'
Keith recorded the new cover of "Ships That Don't Come In" for hitmaking singer-songwriter Hardy's new all-star collaborative album "Hixtape Vol. 3: Difftape."
"To be on a song with Toby was a no-brainer when it got presented to me. That was something I had always hoped to do but never knew if it would happen or not," Combs said in a statement.
"It being one of Joe's songs, especially this one, made it even better; he was there the night I got inducted into the Opry and actually gave me my Opry member award. I grew up listening to both of those guys' music, so to be a part of this version of the song and it now be Toby's last recording is kind of hard to put into words. Country music misses them greatly, but I hope we're doing justice to continue what they started."
A 1977 Velma-Alma High School graduate, Diffie rose to country music stardom in the 1990s with a string of hits including “John Deere Green,” “Pickup Man,” “Third Rock From The Sun,” “If The Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets),” “New Way (To Light Up An Old Flame),” “Bigger Than The Beatles,” "Home," “Honky Tonk Attitude,” “So Help Me Girl,” “Texas Size Heartache" and "Is It Cold in Here."
To Krystal Keith, it was fitting for footage of her father covering a Diffie ballad also was included.
"That was really special. Joe's dad was actually a bus driver for my dad for years, and his mom and dad would babysit us when we were kids out on the road. My dad would take us out on the road, and so that my mom could watch the show ... Joe Diffie's mom would keep us entertained on the bus," she said.
"We definitely go way back with the Diffie family, and I know that my dad really respected Joe and loved his family. I think it was maybe just a little bit kismet that that happened ... to be his last studio session."
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