Moving Toby Keith Tribute Leaves Fans ‘Bawling’ at 2024 CMT Music Awards

The country music legend died at age 62 in February following a battle with stomach cancer.

Toby Keith performs onstage during the 2021 iHeartCountry Festival Presented By Capital One at The Frank Erwin Center on Oct. 30, 2021, in Austin, Texas.
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for iHeartMedia

Fans are feeling emotional after watching the special tribute to late country star Toby Keith at the 2024 CMT Music Awards.

Keith died at the age of 62 in February following a battle with stomach cancer—and now, two months later, the country community is honoring his life and legacy.

Artists Lainey Wilson, Brooks & Dunn, Lukas Nelson and Sammy Hagar, as well as members of Keith’s longtime band, took the stage at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, on Sun., April 7, to pay tribute to the late musician, putting on a sentimental performance of some of the singer’s biggest hits, including “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “I Love This Bar” and “How Do You Like Me Now?!”

Things got even more touching when a very emotional Roger Clemens made a poignant speech in Keith’s honor, raising a “Red Solo Cup” with the entire room to honor the beloved late country star.

“Repeat after me. Let Toby hear you. Repeat after me: ‘Whiskey for my men and beer for my horses,'” Clemens said with tears in his eyes, referencing Keith’s hit song, “Beer for My Horses.”

Keith’s three children, Krystal Keith, Shelley Covel Rowland and Stelen Keith Covel, were all in attendance for the event, and they could be seen breaking into tears while everyone raised their cups and took a drink in honor of their dad’s legacy.

Fans were instantly moved by the tear-jerking performance, with many of them taking to social media to express their feelings about the tribute.

“Toby Keith was very sentimental for me and my dad, and I couldn’t bring myself to listen to him since my dad died, this tribute has me bawling,” one person wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

“Roger Clemens breaking down in tears in that Toby Keith tribute got me #CMTAwards,” someone else added on X.

“Toby is cheering right now!!” someone else wrote on Instagram after Sunday night’s performance.

“Toby sure is missed,” another person added.

Keith was a legend when it came to his history with the CMT Music Awards, receiving a total of 30 nominations throughout his career. He was the winner of seven CMT awards and performed at the ceremony 13 times.

Keith even co-hosted the show twice in his career, including in 2003 with Pamela Anderson, and again in 2012 alongside Kristen Bell.

Following the awards show on Sunday, CBS will also air a special dedication to Keith, CMT Music Awards Celebrate Toby Keith. The program, airing Thursday, April 11 at 10 p.m. ET, will look back on all of his most memorable moments on the CMT Music Awards stage.