Toby Keith was an American country music singer and actor (1961-2024). He broke onto the world stage with his 1993 hit Should've Been a Cowboy, the first single from his debut album, and went onto become one of the most successful country music stars of his era, selling more than 40 million albums worldwide. 

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Keith, who co-wrote most of his songs, was also a well-known patriot. Songs like American Soldier, Made In America, and Courtesy of The Red, White and Blue (The Angry American) exemplified his love for his country (the latter was written in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks).

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Some of his best albums were Unleashed in 2002, Shock'n Y'all in 2003, Bullets in the Gun in 2010, and Clancy's Tavern in 2011. Over the course of his career, he dabbled in acting and screenwriting, appearing in the films Broken Bridges, a drama, and Beer for My Horses, a 2008 comedy based on a duet he recorded with Willie Nelson.

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Keith was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Donald Trump alongside singer and mandolinist Ricky Skaggs in 2021, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame posthumously in October 2024.