This one hurts.
It was just recently announced that Toby Keith is one of three inductees in this year’s Country Music Hall of Fame class.
Serving alongside John Anderson (Veterans Era Artist) and James Burton (Recording and/or Touring Musician), Toby will be entered in 2024 as the Modern Era Artist. While we recently learned of the election rule that you can’t vote in anyone the same year as their death, we also discovered Toby was chosen before he passed away when the voting closed on February 2nd.
The devastating news? He was supposed to find out on February 6th, the day after he died from his two-year long battle with stomach cancer at the young age of 62.
Sarah Trahern, the CEO of the Country Music Association, recently expressed her sadness for not being able to inform Toby of the honor at Monday’s announcement ceremony:
“My heart sank knowing that we missed the chance to inform Toby while he was still with us. But I have no doubt that he is smiling down on us, knowing that he’ll always be, — quote — ‘as good as he once was.’”
The big dog daddy will be remembered as an American patriot, a charitable philanthropist, and an inspiration to many. His legacy will undoubtedly carry on through what is left behind of his storied career, marked by 21 albums and 20 number-one singles, as well as his dedicated support for children diagnosed with cancer, active-duty military personnel, and veterans.