When Toby Keith died in early 2024, the country music world lost a true icon. Over a year later, “Apple Music Nashville Sessions: Toby Keith” is keeping some of his musical magic alive with a brand-new tribute. As part of this project, several of his most beloved songs have gotten a fresh sound from country music’s best and brightest.
“Toby Keith loved music and especially singer-songwriters. He would be so proud of this group of monster talent that covered his songs,” friend and manager TK Kimbrell said, as Billboard shared. He then went on to thank the participating singers, including Tucker Wetmore, Ashley McBryde, and several others. Here’s who made some of Keith’s hits their own in these live-recorded sessions.
Parker McCollum Has Covered Toby Keith Before
GettyFor his Keith cover, Parker McCollum chose “Who’s That Man?” a song he considers one of his favorites. However, this is far from the first time the singer has taken on a Keith classic. At the Toby Keith American Icon Tribute Concert in 2024, he blew audiences away with a stunning rendition of “Courtesy of The Red, White, And Blue.” “What an incredible honor it is to be here tonight,” McCollum said in a YouTube clip from the show. “I’ve been listening to Toby Keith songs as long as I’ve been alive.”
Ashley McBryde Has Always Loved ‘A Little Less Talk And a Lot More Action’
GettyFor Ashley Mcbryde, “A Little Less Talk And a Lot More Action” was an obvious choice. “I’ve been listening to [the song] since I was 10,” the singer said in a Tiktok video caption. In the clip, McBryde clearly has fun covering the song, smiling as she sings. “Absolutely nothing this one can’t sing,” one fan lovingly wrote in the clip’s comment section.
Riley Green Said he Felt Honored to Take on ‘Should’ve Been a Cowboy’
GettyRiley Green is no stranger to covers; the singer got his start performing other artists’ songs on stage. For his part of the Nashville Sessions, the “Worst Way” singer took on Keith’s “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.” In an Instagram post promoting the cover, Green wrote: “It’s always an honor to cover the legend [Toby Keith].” Fans in the comments section loved his rendition, with one even comparing him to Tim McGraw.
Megan Moroney Had a Special Connection to ‘Who’s Your Daddy?’
GettyMegan Moroney‘s voice was an ideal fit for “Who’s Your Daddy?” and the singer has a special connection to the song. “It is my band’s hype song that we play before every single show,” she explained, as Classic Country Music shared. “So much so that it made it into our pre-show playlist.” Moroney perfectly blends her style with the song’s classic sound on this cover.
Tucker Wetmore Covered Keith’s ‘As Good as I Once Was’
GettyTucker Wetmore lent his voice to “As Good as I Once Was,” a 2005 hit from Keith’s album, “Honkytonk University.” As uDiscover Music shared, the singer holds Keith in high regard. “When I hear the word ‘legacy,’ I think of legends, and Toby Keith is definitely one of those legends in my book,” Wetmore said. Fans praised Wetmore in the comments of a TikTok clip from the session. “RIP Toby!! You sound great!” one wrote. Several others dropped likes and heart emojis in response to the clip.
Ella Langley Put Her Spin on Keith’s ‘Wish I Didn’t Know Now’
GettyAs Ella Langley shared with her Instagram followers, choosing a Keith song to cover was easy. “I knew instantly that ‘Wish I Didn’t Know Now’ was the song I wanted to do,” she wrote. The video she posted features a clip of her passionate rendition of the song. Keith made the song a hit back in 1993, and Langley’s version is a beautiful tribute.
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Toby Keith Classics Get a Star-Studded New Tribute