Blake Shelton is still mourning the loss of Toby Keith, and likely always will. Keith, who passed away on February 5, 2024 from stomach cancer, was one of Shelton's biggest influences. Of all of the country artists of the past several decades, Shelton compares Keith to two major legends.
"He will be remembered as having the same impact as Merle Haggard or Waylon Jennings," Shelton tells The Tennessean. "For me, losing his leadership and voice in our industry is like losing a big brother who might either put you in a headlock or, through his music, might be inspirational by reminding you what a legend sounds like."
Shelton might be a big fan of Keith. Still, he admits that he knows someone who is an even bigger fan, if that is possible.
"Even though I toured with Toby for two years, Zuma, my middle son, is officially the biggest Toby Keith fan I've ever met," Shelton reveals.
Blake Shelton's Friendship With Toby Keith
When Keith passed away, Shelton opened up about the devastating loss.
"Even though I knew about your battle these last few months I still never imagined this day," Shelton
"Anyone who knew you knows what I mean ...Thank you brother for being a friend, a hero and an inspiration. There will never be another Toby Keith," he adds.
It was also Shelton who performed at the 2024 Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Keith was posthumously inducted in October. Keith performed a medley of "I Love This Bar" and "Red Solo Cup," using a red, white and blue guitar that was made for Keith.
"When they made those red, white and blue guitars for Toby, they made four of them and they gave Toby three of them," Shelton recalls to Taste of Country. "And my friend David Vincent at Takamine, I reached out to him. I said, 'I'm doing this induction thing for Toby at the Hall of Fame. His family is gonna be there and I want it to be ... I really wanna honor Toby. I wanna buy one of those red, white and blue guitars.'"
Keith also gave Shelton a helping hand in the music industry, at a time when Shelton really needed it.
"For almost two years I opened for Toby," Shelton says. "It was a big deal for me, and he gave me that shot. I was kind of in a low spot as far as having any success at radio, and Toby kept keeping me out there. I think he knew it was helping me out, and it was."
