Of all the performances at “Toby Keith: American Icon,” a tribute show held at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Monday night, the most surprising was an unexpected appearance by Keith himself — on the overhead video screens, filmed during what was described as his final recording session.
The emotional kicker came near the end of the all-star concert, as 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 complications from COVID in 2020. The musical accompaniment was provided live by the tribute special’s house band as Keith, in studio headphones, sang the bittersweet chorus: “So here’s to all the soldiers / Who have ever died in vain / The insane locked up in themselves / And the homeless down on Main / To those who stand on empty shores / And spit against the wind /And those who wait forever / For ships that don’t come in.”
The footage will be part of the special that is set to air on NBC Aug. 28. (Watch fan-captured video of the moment, below.)
A version of the song with blended lead vocals 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 version of the song had Keith’s lead vocals mixed with Diffie’s original singing and another fresh part recorded by Luke Combs. The unveiling of the footage Monday night marked the first time that fans had heard, or seen, Keith’s unadorned vocals from his final session.
Many of the night’s performers looked on, gathered on stage for the final stretch of the show. The footage of Keith in his last months led into another emotional segment, a performance of “Don’t Let the Old Man In” by Keith’s daughter, Krystal Keith, before the taping wrapped up with covers of the late singer’s two most patriotic signature songs, “American Soldier,” sung by concert feature and seeming surprised themselves by Trace Adkins, and “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,” with Parker McCollum leading the full cast in song.
Given Keith’s propensity for humor in much of his catalog, there were lighter moments during the taping, like famed horsewoman Lainey Wilson bringing down the house as she emerged on horseback to sing “Beer for My Horses,” with Jamey Johnson joining her for the duet made famous by Keith and Willie Nelson.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JULY 29: Lainey Wilson is seen backstage during the Toby Keith: American Icon tribute at Bridgestone Arena on July 29, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for Universal Music Group)
Getty Images for Universal Music
The starpower 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 final performance wrapping up a three-night stand at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas on Dec. 14, 2023. He died on Feb. 5 of this year following a battle with gastric cancer. In March, it was revealed that he had been elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame, in voting that took place before his death.
The full setlist for Monday’s tribute show at Bridgestone Arena:
“A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action” — Carrie Underwood
“As Good As I Once Was” — Eric Church
“How Do You Like Me Now?!” — Brantley Gilbert, Hardy
“God Love Her” — Darius Rucker
“Who’s Your Daddy?” — Riley Green, Ella Langley
“Wish I Didn’t Know Now” — Ashley McBryde
“Beer for My Horses” — Lainey Wilson and Jamey Johnson
“Should’ve Been a Cowboy” — Luke Bryan
“My List” — Jelly Roll
“I Love This Bar” — Jordan Davis. Clay Walker
“Red Solo Cup” — Tyler Hubbard, Jordan Davis, Hardy and Jelly Roll
“Ships That Don’t Come In” — Toby Keith (video)
“Don’t Let the Old Man In” — Krystal Keith
“American Soldier” — Trace Adkins
“Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” — Parker McCollum and cast