Rare Final Recording Session Of Toby Keith Released – Watch

On August 23, fans finally got the chance to watch Toby Keith: American Icon in its entirety. Filmed in late July at Bridgestone Arena, the tribute concert featured some of country music’s biggest stars, including Ashley McBryde, Lainey Wilson, Clay Walker, and many others who performed Keith’s most beloved hits in his honor. One of the night’s standout moments was the unveiling of previously unseen studio footage from Toby Keith’s final recording session.

The last track Keith recorded was a rendition of Joe Diffie’s “Ships That Don’t Come In,” featured on HARDY’s latest HIXTAPE release, titled DIFFTAPE. Through an agreement with the Diffie family, HARDY compiled a tribute collection that includes the late hitmaker’s voice alongside artists singing in his honor. Fans could watch Keith record his vocals for the collection in a video shared during the event.

Toby Keith: American Icon aired on NBC, with the two-hour tribute special kicking off at 9 PM Eastern Time. For those who missed the live broadcast, the show became available for streaming on Peacock starting August 29.

The tribute event was packed with Nashville A-listers and other special guests, including NFL legend Brett Favre, who shared fond memories of Keith. A particularly touching moment of the night came when Keith’s daughter, Krystal Keith, took the stage to perform “Don’t Let the Old Man In,” paying a heartfelt tribute to her father.

A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales for the event went to support causes close to Keith’s heart. Funds were directed to the Toby Keith Foundation to benefit OK Kids Korral, as well as to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

This tribute not only celebrated Keith’s incredible contributions to country music but also honored his steady commitment to giving back to the community.