BMI Remembers Legendary Singer/Songwriter Toby Keith

BMI was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Toby Keith, who died Monday at the age of 62. A longtime BMI affiliate, Toby led a remarkable life as a singer/songwriter, producer and actor that leaves an indelible legacy and a revered body of work that includes classic songs like “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,”  “I Love this Bar,” “How Do You Like Me Now?,” “I Wanna Talk About Me,” “As Good As I Once Was,” “Beer for My Horses,” “Red Solo Cup” and many more.  Named a BMI Icon in 2022, Toby sold, over the course of his incredible career, over 40 million albums, had 32 #1 singles and enjoyed an astounding run of consecutive #1 songs every year for two decades. His lyrical skills elevated the art of storytelling to a level that resonated with listeners all over the world. In addition to being named a BMI Icon, Keith won BMI’s Country Songwriter of the Year three times, received the National Medal of Arts in 2021, was inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and was honored with the Academy of Country Music’s Merle Haggard Spirit Award.

Beyond his music, Keith was a committed philanthropist, supporting ventures like Ally’s House, a non-profit organization in Oklahoma designed to aid children with cancer, The OK Kids Korral, a cost-free home for families of children dealing with critical illnesses and his own Toby Keith Foundation. From 2002 to 2013, he undertook 11 tours with the USO, performing for nearly 256,000 active-duty service members and military families in over 15 countries. In 2014, he received the Spirit of the USO Awards for his work with the organization.

“I vividly remember Toby Keith walking into these offices for the first time 30 years ago,” says Clay Bradley, VP Nashville. “I had the pleasure of signing him to BMI and worked closely with him and his team ever since. This is a tremendous loss for the songwriting community. His life and his music made a tremendous impact, and I cherished his trust and his friendship.”

Toby Keith will be tremendously missed by his friends, fans, and family at BMI.

BMI’s VP Creative, Nashville Clay Bradley, Toby Keith, BMI’s President & CEO, Mike O’Neill at the 2022 BMI Country Awards at BMI on November 08, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Erika Goldring