{"id":88394,"date":"2024-04-08T02:49:53","date_gmt":"2024-04-08T02:49:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/08\/lainey-wilson-leads-emotional-2024-cmt-awards-tribute-to-toby-keith\/"},"modified":"2024-04-08T02:49:53","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T02:49:53","slug":"lainey-wilson-leads-emotional-2024-cmt-awards-tribute-to-toby-keith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/08\/lainey-wilson-leads-emotional-2024-cmt-awards-tribute-to-toby-keith\/","title":{"rendered":"Lainey Wilson Leads Emotional 2024 CMT Awards Tribute to Toby Keith"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n Ronnie Dunn, Sammy Hagar, Kix Brooks, Lainey Wilson, Roger Clemens and Lukas Nelson<\/span> Jeff Kravitz\/Getty Images for CMT<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There wasn\u2019t a dry eye in Austin\u2019s Moody Center as Lainey Wilson<\/strong><\/a> and more country superstars paid tribute to the late Toby Keith<\/strong> <\/a>two months after his death at the CMT Music Awards<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Wilson, 31, was joined by Brooks & Dunn, Sammy Hagar <\/strong>and\u00a0Lukas Nelson<\/strong> on Sunday, April 7.\u00a0Former MLB player Roger Clemens <\/strong>exclusively told Us Weekly<\/em> that he was looking forward to remember Keith. \u201cHopefully, I don\u2019t get too emotional,\u201d he told Us<\/em> on the red carpet. \u201cWe miss him dearly and just an honor to be asked to come and present one of his songs, so I\u2019m looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added that he wanted to recognize the family and \u201cstay upbeat\u201d throughout the night. \u201cToby did leave us with some great songs. I mean, you know what I\u2019m saying? A lot of great ones, and they\u2019re fun to sing too,\u201d Clemens, 61, said. \u201cSometimes I can sing \u2019em pretty good and there\u2019s other ones I can\u2019t sing very well, but I give it my best.\u201d<\/p>\n

The retired athlete took the stage to introduce the tribute first. \u201cIt\u2019s an honor to be here and celebrate Big Dog Daddy Toby Keith, a true friend, patriot and great American. Toby was in Houston, off and on for three years while he was battling that damn C-word. Through it all, he always kept his humor and his wit,\u201d Clemens shared during the show.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>The Best Red Carpet Fashion From 2024 CMT Music Awards<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tThe 2024 CMT Music Awards took over\u00a0 Texas, which means fan-favorite country stars flocked to the red carpet. The biggest names of the genre brought their fashion A-game to Austin\u2019s Moody Center on Sunday, April 7. We\u2019re talking flirty frocks, glamorous gowns, stylish suits \u2014 paired with bold hair, fierce makeup and accessories to remember.\u00a0 [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

He added, \u201cA perfect example of it, my two younger boys, who played baseball right here at the University of Texas, they were in Oklahoma playing the Sooners, Toby\u2019s university. No, y\u2019all can\u2019t boo tonight. This is for Tony. Toby told my boys, if you hit a home room off our Oklahoma pitcher to day I\u2019ll sit on your dugout and I\u2019ll sing \u201cthe eyes of Texas\u2019 with you \u2026 true to form, Toby sat on that dugout and with his funny wit, he sang \u201cI\u2019ve been working on the railroad.’\u201d<\/p>\n

Clemens introduced Brooks & Dunn, who played Keith\u2019s hit \u201cShould\u2019ve Been a Cowboy,\u201d and they introduced Hagar.<\/p>\n

\u201cToby and I, we spent a lot of time in Cabo together over the years,\u201d the rocker, 76, said. \u201cWe closed the Cabo Wabo down a lot more times than probably we even remember. Just put it like this, it\u2019s hard to get thrown out of your own bar, and we managed to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hagar continued, \u201cWe had this routine. I\u2019d go down early and I\u2019d I\u2019d be on stage with the band and I\u2019d see this big commotion going on at the front door and I would look up and big dog daddy and his posse walking through the door and I would turn to the band and I would say.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Ronnie Dunn, Sammy Hagar, Kix Brooks, Lainey Wilson, Roger Clemens and Lukas Nelson<\/span> Rick Kern\/Getty Images for CMT<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then, Hagar launched into Keith\u2019s song \u201cI Love This Bar\u201d and revealed his shirt said \u201cForever a Sooner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following Hagar, songwriters Lukas Nelson<\/strong> and Riley Green<\/strong> came out to pay their respects. \u201cToby was not a shy guy. He had a big personality,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cI met him when I was younger, when he was working on Beer for my horses\u201d with dad. I got lucky I got the opportunity to watch his artistry in person.\u201d<\/p>\n

Green added, \u201cThat guy could come up with a hook like no other and sang the hell out of every song that he wrote somehow while making it look easy.\u201d<\/p>\n

They introduced Lainey Wilson, who covered Keith\u2019s \u201cHow Do Ya Like Me Now?\u201d Finally, Clemens returned to the stage to end with the tribute with a shout-out to the family and a toast.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks for sharing your dad with all of us,\u201d Clemens said as he struggled to control his emotions. \u201cThank you. Trish, we love you. Thank you for sharing your husband with the world Trish, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>2024 CMT Awards: Complete List of Winners and Nominees<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tAmy Sussman\/Getty Images The 2024 CMT Music Awards celebrates some of the biggest names in country music. The Sunday, April 7, awards show kicks off at 8 p.m. ET at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. Kelsea Ballerini makes her return to host the awards show for the fourth time \u2014 with 2024 marking her [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

He and many audience members raised red Solo cups in reference to Keith\u2019s \u201cRed Solo Cup\u201d track. \u201cEverybody at home, raise your fist if you don\u2019t have a Solo cup,\u201d he said. \u201cRepeat after me: whiskey for my men and beer for my horses.\u201d<\/p>\n

News broke in February that Keith had died<\/a> at the age of 62.<\/p>\n

\u201cToby Keith passed peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family. He fought his fight with grace and courage,\u201d a statement shared via his social media accounts read on February 6. \u201cPlease respect the privacy of his family at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keith, who is survived by wife Tricia Lucus and their three children, had been diagnosed with stomach cancer<\/a> less than one year earlier.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast fall I was diagnosed with stomach cancer,\u201d the \u201cRed Solo Cup\u201d singer wrote via Instagram in June 2022. \u201cI\u2019ve spent the last 6 months receiving chemo, radiation and surgery. So far, so good. I need time to breathe, recover and relax.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued at the time, \u201cI am looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can\u2019t wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>Hottest Couples at the 2024 CMT Music Awards<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tThe 2024 CMT Music Awards was the ultimate date night for country music\u2019s hottest couples on Sunday, April 7. Jelly Roll, who is nominated for three awards, brought wife Bunnie XO to the ceremony. The singer, 39, opted for an all-black look with a beige leather jacket and a diamond cross necklace. Bunnie XO, 44, [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Nearly one year later, Keith was honored with the Country Icon Award at the inaugural People\u2019s Choice Country Awards in September 2023. On the red carpet, he offered a health update.<\/p>\n

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