The Oklahoma Sooners returned the field on Friday night (Aug. 30) in a home game against the Temple Owls, and the night’s festivities included a powerful tribute to Toby Keith that had fans singing along.
The Sooners suited up against the Owls to open their season at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla.
According to USA Today, Keith was a “lifelong OU fan,” and the team honored the late Oklahoma-born superstar by playing one of his signature patriotic anthems, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American),” over the stadium’s loudspeaker after the third quarter of the game.
In the video below, the fans in the stadium are singing along to every word of the song, honoring Keith as one of the state’s most important exports:
RELATED: Toby Keith’s Top 20 Songs Prove He’s a Country Icon
The fans on hand at the opening game were not the only ones who loved the gesture. Football fans and Keith fans on X also shared strong reactions to the tribute.
Not everyone was a huge fan of the song selection, however:
The Oklahoman newspaper reports that the Sooners trounced the Owls 51-3 in the season-opening game.
Keith made no secret of the fact that he was a diehard Sooners fan; he was one of the team’s most prominent supporters, and OU even awarded him an honorary posthumous degree in April, just months after he died in February of 2024 after battling stomach cancer for two years.
The University of Oklahoma Sooners have announced that they plan to honor Keith at every home game of the season, using both music and video elements for a series of tributes.
An NBC tribute concert titled Toby Keith: American Icon also honored Keith’s life and legacy this week, featuring performances from Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson and many more.
Sterling Whitaker is a Senior Writer and Senior Editor for Taste of Country. He focuses on celebrity real estate, as well as coverage of Yellowstone and related shows like 1883 and 1923. He’s interviewed cast members including Cole Hauser, Kelly Reilly, Sam Elliott and Harrison Ford, and Whitaker is also known for his in-depth interviews with country legends including Don Henley, Rodney Crowell, Trace Adkins, Ronnie Milsap, Ricky Skaggs and more.
Toby Keith: American Icon – Tribute Concert Set List + Photos
Here is the set list and photos from Toby Keith: American Icon, a tribute concert in Nashville. Taping took place on July 29 at Bridgestone Arena. It airs on NBC on Aug. 28 at 9PM ET.
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
Toby Keith’s Sweetest Photos With His Wife, Tricia Lucus
In 1984, Toby Keith married his love Tricia Lucus after three years of dating, and the couple remained together for the rest of his life. Over the years, they raised three children together. Keith adopted Tricia’s daughter Shelley, who was born from a previous relationship, and they welcomed a daughter named Krystal and a son named Stelen. Take a look back at the couple’s sweetest moments together through the years.
Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak
See Photos From Toby Keith’s Final Shows in Las Vegas
Toby Keith played three shows to a sold-out crowd at Las Vegas’ Dolby Park on Dec. 10, Dec. 11 and Dec. 14, 2024. These shows would turn out to be his last. Amid his ongoing stomach cancer battle, the country legend died on Feb. 6 at the age of 62.
Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak
Toby Keith Dies: Jason Aldean, Luke Combs + More Stars React Toby Keith died at the age of 62 on Monday (Feb. 5) after a battle with stomach cancer. His death left the country music community mourning one of its most influential figures and talented songwriters. Here are some of the tributes and memories artists shared as they grieved Keith’s passing.
Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak
Toby Keith’s 25 Best Songs Prove He’s a Country IconToby Keith reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart 20 times during his 30-plus year career, but some of this best songs were deep cuts.
Here are his greatest hits — the top songs from 19 studio albums and beyond.
Toby Keith died on Feb. 5, 2024 after a two-year battle with stomach cancer.
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
22 Photos of Toby Keith Young
Toby Keith was one of the most influential artists in country music history, with a career spanning from the mid 1990s all the way until his death in 2024. Let’s take a walk back in time and see pictures of Toby Keith young.
Gallery Credit: Evan Paul
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Publish date : 2024-08-30 13:00:00
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