Stars like Eric Church, Lainey Wilson, and Luke Bryan honor late Toby Keith in a TV special tribute.

though Toby Keith took his final breath earlier this year his spirit is alive and what Keith did best kicking ass on NBC's much anticipated tribute concert that airs tonight Toby Keith American Icon was filmed before a sellout crowd at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena in Late July and a flock of his famous friends and admirers including Carrie Underwood Luke bran Eric Church and Laney Wilson showed up to honor the country Legend though naturally there were tearful moments the evening was mostly a joyful celebration of Keith who succumbed to stomach cancer at age 62 on Feb five in his native Oklahoma he left behind a treasure Trove of music that reflect his rare combination of qualities Rowdy showman passionate Patriot tender Family Man gifted Wordsmith and all were elevated during the 2-hour event people had a prime seat in the arena and here are can't miss highlights that viewers can look forward to one of the Maverick superstars who came after Keith Eric Church reminisces to the audience about his early days when he couldn't get a gig Toby Keith was the guy that called church recollects and said hey why don't you come play shows with me church is now about the same age as Keith was when he made that offer which makes the song that church performs I'm not as good as I once was a perfect match Ashley McBride pays homage to Keith's songwriter Hall of Fame career touching her heart and declaring being a songwriter is about being truthful and Toby you are truth her musical contribution is a stirring delivery of I wish I didn't know now earlier on the red carpet McBride recalled opening for Keith in her early career days he made sure that I was seen and that I was comfortable she told people and in doing that he taught a very green very young artist how to treat people now my experience with Toby gets to be other artists experiences with me Wilson knows how to make a memorable entrance she first appears at the rear of the Arena on the back of cowboy the horse she's ridden as a co-star on Blockbuster TV drama Yellowstone Horse and Rider follow a Meandering trail to the lip of the stage where Wilson Dismounts to join Jamie Johnson for a rousing duet of what else Beer for My Horses tap to sing should have been a cowboy Luke Brian abandons his trademark ball cap for a black cowboy hat and he tells its touching backstory recalling how he cut his teeth singing Toby Keith songs in Georgia bars his sister who died in 2007 gave him the cowboy hat to wear during that early era I used to wear this hat every night Brian explains and ever since I lost my sister I haven't put this hat on stage in a lot of years and I was walking out of the house tonight and I said you know what I'm just an old country boy from Georgia but Toby Keith certainly made me want to be a cowboy Keith's wise lyrics for a good life contained in my list take on even more meaning now that their writer is gone I won't break my back for a million bucks I can't take to my grave so why put off for tomorrow what I could get done today introducing the song jelly roll shares that Keith inspired me to be a better father and he dedicates it to Keith's family who sit on one one side of the stage below a giant US flag and a scaffold filled with soldiers from nearby Fort Campbell jelly delivers the lyrics with subdued Authority bringing many in the audience including Keith's son stellen kovell two tears Crystal Keith the Honor's 38-year-old daughter Soares through the poignant life lessons of don't let the old man in despite the worry she expressed early earlier on the red carpet about even getting through the song Toby Keith memorably performed it last fall at the People's Choice Country Awards the show's producers Crystal Keith explained picked it for her to sing and I had to really just kind of talk myself into it it's definitely a heart-wrenching song even more so given ke's 2-year battle with cancer he wrote the song and originally sang it for the 2018 Clint Eastwood film The Mule a makeshift bar on the side of the stage opposite the Keith family keeps the party Vibes flowing throughout the evening the artists all gather there after their performances but leave it to Mary maker Tyler hubard to move the party hardy atmosphere to center stage with a rockus delivery of red Solo cup one of the few Keith hits that he did not write he famously called it the stupidest song that I have ever heard in my life but also freakin awesome the songs for writers Brett beavers Jim beavers Brad Warren and Brett Warren join hubard as they joined Keith on the original recording along with Jordan Davis Hardy and jelly roll perhaps the most surprising moment of the evening occurs when jelly roll announces Keith had won more great performance that had yet to be seen jelly then introduces a video of the late artist in his final studio session recording ships that don't come in for Hardy's hick stape volume 3 which celebrates the music of the late Joe DIY in those brief three minutes Keith steals the show with his interpretation of the song's achingly wistful lyrics Keith's close friend Trace Atkins is tapped for the late artist's iconic salute to the military American Soldier and the moment is made even more dramatic by the appearance on stage of a US Army Color Guard preceding the performance earlier on the red carpet Atkins said Keith's love for the men and women who serve this country was absolutely genuine to be able to sing this song that meant so much to him means the world to me two Keith's feisty signature song Courtesy of the Red White and Blue the R American was the last song he performed publicly at each of his Trio of final concerts last December in Las Vegas it closes out the tribute as well and perhaps it's appropriate that Parker McCollum among the bright stars of Country's new generation takes the helm though he never met Keith McCollum explained on the red carpet that he grew up a huge fan and he uses Keith's career and life as a source of inspiration I've thought about how many times he probably had days that he was going to throw in a towel I'm sure he felt those things but that man embodies what it takes to make country music in this town McCollum doesn't have to go It Alone with his daunting assignment not only does the entire cast join him on the second verse but the majority of the capacity crowd also lustily provs they know every last word of the FL waving Anthem Toby Keith American Icon a 2-hour special airs at 900 p.m. eastern time HCT Wednesday on NBC and it will begin streaming on Thursday on peacock a portion of concert ticket sales have been donated to the Toby Keith foundation's okay kids coral a cost-free home in Oklahoma City for families of children dealing with critical illnesses and Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville