The announcement of the death of Country legend Toby Keith at 62 years old from stomach cancer has had a resounding effect on the Country music community. Yesterday (February 6th) saw a massive outpouring of grief and respect for a musician who grabbed hold of the industry by the scruff of its neck and shaped it into something resembling what it is today.
It also re-ignited the vitriol and divisions that run just underneath the surface of modern America in all areas of society.
Toby Keith’s breakthrough came with the release of his self-titled debut album in 1993, which spawned the hit single ‘Should’ve Been a Cowboy.’ The song topped the country charts and became one of the most-played country songs of the 1990s, establishing Keith as a rising star in the genre.
Throughout his career, Keith released numerous hit albums and singles, including chart-toppers like ‘How Do You Like Me Now?!’ and ‘Beer for My Horses.’ In addition to his success as a musician, Keith ventured into acting, with roles in films such as “Broken Bridges” and “Beer for My Horses.” He also helped Scott Borchetta launch Big Machine Records in 2005, investing in the label that was initially supposed to be a joint project before he jumped ship and created his own record label, Show Dog Nashville. Big Machine helped discover and nurture a very young Taylor Swift but it was the terrorist attack on America on September 11th 2001 that would change his career forever and put him front-and-centre in the mix of an argument with the (then called) Dixie Chicks which would change both of their careers forever.
The conflict began in 2003 during the lead-up to the Iraq War when the Dixie Chicks, comprised of Natalie Maines, Emily Strayer, and Martie Maguire, publicly criticised President George W. Bush’s decision to invade Iraq. During a concert in London, Natalie Maines remarked that they were “ashamed” to hail from the same state as President Bush, referencing their Texas roots.
Toby Keith, known for his patriotic and pro-military stance, responded strongly to the Dixie Chicks’ comments. He expressed his disapproval of their statement and defended the President and the military, aligning himself with a more conservative perspective.
The dispute escalated as Toby Keith released the song ‘Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)’ shortly after, which was interpreted by many as a direct response to the Dixie Chicks’ criticism. The song contained lyrics that were perceived as confrontational and vengeful, fuelling the tension between the two parties. The Chicks took to wearing ‘F.U.T.K.’ T shirts and it’s safe to say that both their’s and Toby Keith’s careers would never be quite the same again. Sure, Keith would go on to have massive success with ‘Red Solo Cup’ on the radio but people’s feelings towards that song are just as polarised as they were about the feud itself as America set itself on the path to where it is today – split by divisions throughout all levels of society and seemingly at war with itself and its own ideals as the teenage country tries to work out who it actually is in 2024.
Those divisions ignited again online yesterday with many people, musicians within the industry, record executives, PRs, fans and ‘influencers’ taking a hard stance on Toby Keith’s legacy, for good or bad.
Interestingly, when Toby Keith released ‘Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)’ he was a registered member of the Democratic party so whilst he went on to play at Donald Trump’s inauguration in 2017 he also performed for multiple Democrat presidents too. His legacy and the historical divisions between himself and the Chicks need to be viewed through a complex and nuanced lens. Many liberal or left wing commentators see Keith’s jingoism and patriotism as a bad thing and those voices were loud on social media yesterday. Holly G, the founder of the Black Opry (@_love_holly) posted on X ‘Today is a great day to stream ‘Gaslighter’ by The Chicks’ going on to say that ‘the best part of the music industry is sitting on your thumbs while terrible men are being celebrated. Cheers all.’
On the flip side, a post on Instagram from Whiskey Riff of Natalie Maines of the Chicks wearing a ‘F.U.T.K.’ T shirt from back in 2003 brought hatred, vitriol and even death threats and offensive abuse from members of the general public in the comments section. John Rich called out Taylor Swift, posting on X that Toby Keith was instrumental in helping to create her career, asking her where her statement was about his death.
Country musicians were largely unanimous in their respect for Keith and what he achieved in his career. Statements from the likes of George Strait, Brooks & Dunn, Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw and Lee Ann Womack all expressed their admiration and grief whilst organisations like The Opry, CMT and the ACMs did the same. Unfortunately the usual loud mouths and people with agendas to push also opened their loud mouths and pushed their agendas: Ted Nugent, the legendary rock guitarist posted a quote from Keith which simply said, ‘Never apologise for being patriotic. Fuck ’em’ whilst Vivek Ramaswamy the entrepreneur and politician, who recently dropped out of the race to become the Republican candidate for the upcoming elections, posted ‘…..he refused to bow to toxic cancellation or anti-Americanism. Our country is better because of men like Toby Keith.’
However, voices on the left were just as vociferous. The ‘Billionaires Are Parasites’ site on X posted ‘I remember when he threatened to kill the Dixie Chicks for not wanting to eviscerate random Muslims in Iraq. That’s my memories of the ignorant bully Toby Keith,’ whilst UzamakiJ was typical of this side’s of the divide sentiments when he posted, ‘Damn, the racist asshole Toby Keith died……and during Black History month…..I hope the Dixie Chicks are having the best day ever!’
These divisions are reflective of a society or large swathes of people who don’t seem to be able to frame any situation in any other way than just to label things simply ‘good’ or ‘bad’. We’ve lost the nuance in our modern world to be able to look at something and see more than just one linear conclusion. People cannot be framed in this way. People are complex beings that have complex eras and phases. The Toby Keith of 1993 might not even have recognised the Toby Keith of 2003 but they were one and the same person.
Perhaps the most insightful and thoughtful posts came from two very different online voices that occupy two very different spaces in the Country music community. Kyle Coroneos, who writes under the name Trigger on his website Saving Country Music tweeted ‘Hey Folks! You can enjoy parts of Toby Keith’s catalogue and The Chicks’ catalogue too….You can even recognise their flaws…..and even disagree with their politics.’ whilst Adeem the Artist, who once wrote a song called ‘I Wish You Would’ve Been a Cowboy,’ in which he invited Toby Keith to reckon with some perspectives that he might not have considered before, wrote ‘That he spent his remaining years in pain navigating a relentless disease is heartbreaking. TK was an asshole…I should know I’ve been an asshole a time or two but he was also a father, a husband and an undeniable force when it came to songwriting. I’m sorry that the mechanisms of celebrity open the doors for so much haphazard cruelty.’
Two very different people with two very different outlooks on life and opinions on what is or isn’t Country music – united in a belief that we don’t have to be so judgemental, that we don’t have to be so linear and that we don’t have to be so black and white and divided by every last opinion we have on every last little thing.
Rest in peace Toby Keith. Hero or asshole? Perhaps that should be hero AND asshole? It’s Ok to be both. We all are in our own different ways.
