Toby Keith footage from final recording session revealed during Tribute Taping

Of all the performances at “Toby Keith: American Icon,” a tribute show held Monday night at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, the most surprising was an unexpected appearance from Keith himself — on the overhead video screens, filmed during what was described as his last recording. session.

The emotional kicker came near the end of the all-star concert, when Keith was seen in a recording studio singing a cover of “Ships That Don’t Come In,” recorded in 1992 by Joe Diffie, who died of complications from COVID in 1992. 2020. Musical accompaniment was provided live by the tribute special’s house band, as Keith, in studio headphones, sang the bittersweet chorus: “So here’s to all the Soldiers / Who have ever died in vain / The lunatics locked within themselves / And the homeless on the Main / For those who stand on empty banks / And spit against the wind / And those who wait forever / For ships that do not come in.

The footage will be part of the special airing August 28 on NBC. (Watch the fan-made video of that moment below.)

A version of the song with mixed lead vocals had previously been released on Hardy’s tribute to Diffie, “Hixtape: Vol 3: Difftape”, which was released in March, weeks after Keith’s death. That version of the song had Keith’s lead vocals mixed with Diffie’s original vocals and another new part recorded by Luke Combs. The unveiling of the footage on Monday night marked the first time fans had heard or seen Keith’s unadorned vocals from his latest session.

Many of the evening’s performers watched and gathered on stage for the final part of the show. Footage of Keith in his final months led into another emotional segment, a performance of “Don’t Let the Old Man In” by Keith’s daughter, Krystal Keith, before the taping concluded with covers of the two most patriotic signature songs of the late singer. , “American Soldier,” sung in concert and appearing surprised herself by Trace Adkins, and “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,” with Parker McCollum leading the entire cast.

Given Keith’s propensity for humor throughout much of his catalog, there were lighter moments during the recording, such as famed horsewoman Lainey Wilson bringing the house down when she emerged on horseback to sing “Beer for My Horses,” while Jamey Johnson joined her for the duet. made famous by Keith and Willie Nelson.

The star power on the show included performances from Jelly Roll, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Ashley McBryde, Jordan Davis, Darius Rucker and Hardy. (See the full setlist below.)

Keith performed his final performance to conclude a three-night stand at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas on December 14, 2023. He passed away on February 5 of this year after a battle with stomach cancer. In March, it was revealed that he had been elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, in the vote that took place before his death.

The full set list for Monday’s tribute show at Bridgestone Arena:

“A little less talk and a lot more action” – Carrie Underwood
“As Good as I Ever Was” – Eric Church
“How do you think of me now?!” – Brantley Gilbert, Hardy
“God Loves Her” – Darius Rucker
“Who is your father?” – Riley Green, Ella Langley
“I wish I didn’t know now” – Ashley McBryde
“Beer for My Horses” – Lainey Wilson and Jamey Johnson
“Should have been a cowboy” – Luke Bryan
“My List” – Jelly Roll
“I love this bar” — Jordan Davis. Clay Walker
“Red Solo Cup” — Tyler Hubbard, Jordan Davis, Hardy and Jelly Roll
“Ships That Don’t Come In” — Toby Keith (video)
“Don’t let the old man in” – Krystal Keith
“American Soldier” – Trace Adkins
“Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” – Parker McCollum and cast