Trace Adkins Reflects on Toby Keith’s Patriotic Legacy, Delivering an Emotional Rendition of ‘American Soldier’

Adkins said, quoting Keith, “Never apologize for being patriotic,” from the platform.

On July 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee, Trace Adkins takes the stage at Bridgestone Arena. Image courtesy of Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for Universal Music Group

In the two-hour NBC program Toby Keith: American Icon, Trace Adkins paid a moving homage to Toby Keith, recalling their many years of traveling together and the significant influence Keith had via his patriotism.

Adkins was one of the few artists that really know Toby Keith and the man behind the scenes, having been friends with Keith for many years and going on tours with. Adkins paused to remember the poignant message that Keith conveyed at the conclusion of each of his live performances before giving an incredibly emotional and beautiful rendition of “American Solider” in honor of Keith and his dedication to the military.

Trace Adkins performs onstage at Bridgestone Arena on July 29, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee; Photo by: Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for Universal Music Group
On July 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee, Trace Adkins takes the stage at Bridgestone Arena. Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for Universal Music Group took this picture.

“I’ve known Toby for a very long time, and we did a lot of gigs together while on multiple tours together. I seem to recall that at the end of each performance he gave, he would always say, “Never apologize for being patriotic.” Every night, he said that, Adkins noted. And since, my God, he really did believe that, I realized while he was saying it that it was both a challenge to the rest of us and a window into Toby Keith’s personality.

Keith lived what he preached, and Adkins praised him for it. Keith had undertaken 11 USO Tours, performing in front of 256,000 soldiers and military families in 18 nations at over 285 engagements.

“He had a deep-rooted love and respect for the men and women who have served this country.” It was real, authentic, and meaningful. With a rich, baritone voice, he remarked, “I always respected him so much for that.” “Toby is someone I could talk about all night, but for now I’ll just say that I’m glad I got to know him and call him a friend. We miss you, Toby. Thank you.

Trace Adkins performed “American Solider” in a terrifying manner a short while later. On the screen behind him, pictures of Toby Keith and his numerous USO Tours displayed during his performance. Toby Keith: American Icon gave a truly remarkable performance, and it was undoubtedly an emotional time.

Trace Adkins performs onstage at Bridgestone Arena on July 29, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Universal Music Group
On July 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee, Trace Adkins takes the stage at Bridgestone Arena. Image courtesy of Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Universal Music Group

Written by Keith and Chuck Cannon, “American Solider” was published in November 2003. It can be found on the album Hi Shock’n Y’all and has an RIAA Platinum certification.

Among the many famous country musicians that gave their all to pay tribute to the late Toby Keith was Trace Adkins. Priscilla Block, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Jordan Davis, Scotty Emerick, Brett Favre, Brantley Gilbert, Riley Green, HARDY, Tyler Hubbard, Jamey Johnson, Krystal Keith, Ella Langley, Mac McAnally, Ashley McBryde, Parker McCollum, Leanne Morgan, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Clay Walker, and Lainey Wilson were among the performers and special guests on the two-hour special.

Trace Adkins performs onstage at Bridgestone Arena on July 29, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Universal Music Group
On July 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee, Trace Adkins takes the stage at Bridgestone Arena. Image courtesy of Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Universal Music Group

The special featured a variety of musical performances that showcased Keith’s amazing songwriting and music, but it also emphasized his kindness and generosity by supporting The Toby Keith Foundation’s OK Kids Korral and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Families from both groups seemed to tell the stories of how they were helped and supported when things were really hard.

NBC broadcast Toby Keith: American Icon on Wednesday, August 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The next day, Peacock will offer the episode for streaming.

On February 5, 2024, the legendary country music performer Toby Keith departed from this life due to stomach cancer. He had an astounding 32 No. 1 hits over his career and sold an astounding 40 million albums.

All artists perform onstage at Bridgestone Arena on July 29, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee; Photo by: Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for Universal Music Group
On July 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee, all musicians take the stage at Bridgestone Arena; image courtesy of Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for Universal Music Group

Given that he has achieved a chart-topping hit for 20 years running, including “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue (The Angry American),” “I Love This Bar,” “Beer For My Horses,” and “As Good As I Once Was,” it should come as no surprise that he is considered one of country music’s biggest hitmakers.

In addition to being inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (after being admitted into the all-genre Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015), he has been awarded the National Medal of Arts and the prestigious Merle Haggard Spirit Award by the Academy of Country Music.

Toby Keith: American Icon

The Oklahoma native won three BMI Country Songwriter of the Year awards over his career in addition to the BMI Icon Award. In 2006, his popular song “As Good As I Once Was” won BMI’s Country Song of the Year.

To date, Toby Keith’s music has received 100 million terrestrial radio spins and over 10 billion streaming.

Ex-Model On Addiction And Homeless Life: ‘I’m In A Lot Of Pain’

Fitness model who got homeless after becoming an addict Loni Willison is blaming her ex-husband, “Baywatch” actor Jeremy Jackson, for her mental health deterioration.

In an interview that X17 Online published on Friday, the 39-year-old Willison—who has been spotted looking through dumpsters in California throughout the years—was asked where her life went wrong.

“My former spouse. Getting hitched. I got divorced, at least,” she answered.”He arranged for this to happen to me.”

After less than two years of marriage, the couple suffered a painful breakup in 2014.

During an apparent drunken altercation, Jackson allegedly attempted to choke Willison. The Post reached out to Jackson for an answer.

Willison formerly modeled for magazines like Flavour, Iron Man, and Glam Fit. She disappeared from the public view for over four years, until 2018.

Ex-Model On Addiction And Homeless Life ‘I’m In A Lot Of Pain’

Instead of her beautifully bronzed physique and gorgeous blonde hair, Willison had become disheveled, had short hair, and had lost her top teeth when she resurfaced.

During the interview on Friday, Willison said that her stomach hurts “really bad” and that she is “in a lot of pain.”

She said that she “can’t live inside anywhere” and that she is no longer allowed to be near power because she was “electrocuted” every day for about a year.

I believe that in addition to sensing electricity, I also detect other substances such as wire, various metals, fuses, batteries, and specific compounds. Therefore, I believe that my body even filters that kind of stuff,” she said.

I wouldn’t know for sure; I’d need to use a sonogram machine or a large X-ray machine to find out. It’s fairly intense.

When asked whether she had asked the city of Los Angeles for help, Willison replied, “There’s nothing that anybody can offer me.” There is nothing we can do to help.

She claimed to have received offers of help but never made a request for it.

She acknowledged that she’s “not necessarily” satisfied with her life’s course, saying, “There are good parts and there are bad parts, but whatever.”

The interviewer also noticed that she had serious injuries on her fingers. When he suggested that she have them checked out, Willison comforted him, saying, “I’ll be fine.”

In a 2018 interview, Willison discussed her energy issues with the Daily Mail. She said at the time that she was “getting tortured in my home, my apartment” due to her crystal meth addiction.

The 42-year-old Jackson has been open about his own battles with alcohol, drug, and steroid addiction.

In order to serve time in prison for allegedly stabbing a woman in Los Angeles in 2015, Jackson accepted into a plea deal in 2017.

He was also kicked off “Celebrity Big Brother” in 2015 after it was alleged that he had stolen model Chloe Goodman’s robe.

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