Of all the performances at “Toby Keith: American Icon,” a tribute show held at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Monday night, the most shocking was a sudden appearance by Keith himself — on overhead video screens, filmed during what has been described as his final recording session.
The emotional kicker came near the end of the all-star live performance, when Keith was seen in a recording studio singing a cover of “Ships That Don’t Come In,” recorded in 1992 by Joe Diffie, who died of COVID-19 issues in 2020. Musical accompaniment was provided live by the tribute’s local band as Keith, on studio headphones, sang the bittersweet chorus: “So here’s to all the soldiers / Who have ever died in vain / The madmen locked inside themselves / And the homeless at the top / To those who stand on empty beaches / And spit into the wind / And those who wait perpetually / For ships that don’t come.”
The footage will likely be part of the special airing on NBC on August 28. (Watch fan-captured video of the moment, below.)
A sample of the song with lead vocals mixed in had previously been released on Hardy’s tribute to Diffie, “Hixtape: Vol 3: Difftape,” which was released in March, weeks after Keith’s death. That sample of the song featured Keith’s lead vocals mixed with Diffie’s authentic singing and another recent half recorded by Luke Combs. The unveiling of the footage Monday night marked the first time fans had heard, or seen, Keith’s unadorned vocals from his final session.
Many of the night’s performers made an appearance, gathering onstage for the final stretch of the show. Footage of Keith in his final months led to another emotional segment, a performance of “Don’t Let the Old Man In” by Keith’s daughter Krystal Keith, before the recording ended with covers of the late singer’s two most patriotic songs, “American Soldier,” sung by a live, stunned-sounding Hint Adkins, and “Courtesy of the Crimson, White and Blue,” with Parker McCollum leading the full cast in tune.
Given Keith’s penchant for humor throughout much of his catalog, there were lighter moments throughout the recording, such as famed horsewoman Lainey Wilson bringing the house down when she appeared on horseback to sing “Beer for My Horses,” with Jamey Johnson joining her in the duet made famous with Keith and Willie Nelson.
Stars at the show included appearances by Jelly Roll, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Ashley McBryde, Jordan Davis, Darius Rucker and Hardy. (See the full setlist below.)
Keith gave his remaining performance wrapping up a three-night stay at the Dolby Dwell at Park MGM in Las Vegas on December 14, 2023. He died on February 5 of this year after a battle with stomach cancer. In March, it was revealed that he had been elected to the Nation Music Hall of Fame, in a vote that took place before his death.
The full setlist for Monday’s tribute at the Bridgestone Enviornment:
“A little less talk and a lot more action” — Carrie Underwood
“As good as I ever was” — Eric Church
“How do you like me now?!” — Brantley Gilbert, Hardy
“God Loves Her” — Darius Rucker
“Who’s Your Daddy?” — Riley Inexperienced, Ella Langley
“I wish I didn’t know now” — Ashley McBryde
“Beer for My Horses” — Lainey Wilson and Jamey Johnson
“Should have been a cowboy” — Luke Bryan
“My Checklist” — Jelly Roll
“I love this bar.” — Jordan Davis. Clay Walker
“Crimson Solo Cup” — Tyler Hubbard, Jordan Davis, Hardy and Jelly Roll
“Ships That Don’t Come” — Toby Keith (video)
“Don’t let the old man in.” — Krystal Keith
“American Soldier” — Hint Adkins
“Courtesy of Crimson, White and Blue (The Indignant American)” — Parker McCollum and Forged
Opposite Toby Keith Remaining Recording Session Revealed on Tribute Recording first appeared on All celebrities.