Toby Keith’s band, along with artists Lainey Wilson, Brooks & Dunn, Lukas Nelson, and Sammy Hagar, put on a touching tribute performance of some of the singer’s biggest hits, including “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “I Love This Bar” and “How Do You Like Me Now?!” leaving hardly a dry eye in the house, including Keith’s children, Shelley Covel Rowland, Krystal Keith, and Stelen Keith Covel. They were also seen participating in the toast led by former MLB player Roger Clemens, who asked everyone in the room to hold their red cups up for the late artist. “Let Toby hear ya! Repeat after me, whiskey for my men and beer for my horses!” he exclaimed, borrowing a lyric from Keith’s song “Beer for My Horses.”
In a red-carpet interview ahead of the show, Stelen expressed gratitude for the outpouring of respect and admiration shown by his father’s peers. “I think he’d be really excited. He’s made some amazing music throughout his career, and it’s amazing we get to see that come to fruition and see his due given,” he told CMT (via People). Krystal echoed the same sentiment, saying that she’s glad that everyone is appreciating Keith’s profound impact on the world. “He was a genius in music, and people are starting to see that now,” she added. “I think people thought he was just an artist, but they’re learning he was so much more than that.
