Who is toby keith

Oklahoma's very own Toby Keith isn't exactly an enigma wrapped in a shadow, but there are some things about him you should know. Here are 10 things you may not have known about Toby Keith. It only took the guy 20 minutes to write, which is pretty awesome especially when you consider all the accolades — and criticism — it received. It is a certified platinum single, having sold more than 1.

But that didn't stop The Chicks from slamming the song, claiming it is "ignorant, and it makes country music sound ignorant. A year after his first Greatest Hits compilation came out from Mercury; he and his producer, James Stroud, left the label.

He then signed a deal with DreamWorks Records, headed by his producer. Toby also has since opened his own record label, the aforementioned Showdog Tunes. Sign In. Edit Toby Keith. Showing all 27 items. Many of his songs are either about having good times or are patriotic and allegedly-right-wing political commentaries, though he is a known Democrat and has supported both Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Started his own band, "the Easy Money Band", and played in honky tonks all across America before making it big.

Has a daughter, Krystal. She sang with him on the CMA Awards Before singing country music, was a semi-pro footballer player. He is also a grandfather to three granddaughters and one grandson! More about them here. Watch the video below to see his family journey. Once the oil industry hit a downturn, he took leap of faith to pursue a music career. Toby gave himself an ultimatum— have a recording contract by the time he was years-old or give up on music as a career for good. A flight attendant and fan of Toby gave a copy of his demo tape to Harold Shedd, a Mercury Records executive during a flight.

There's little about Toby Keith, in fact, that isn't calibrated for maximum synergy. The mezcal--and the worm--were from the year-old's own liquor label, Wild Shot. His road trip to the stage is part of a multimillion-dollar endorsement deal with Ford, whose executives had filled his preshow tour bus, and once he's up there, he makes sure to play "I Love This Bar," a song after which he's named his restaurant chain.

The teens down in front with the Taylor Swift shirts? Keith owns a piece of her, too. Keith's commercial chops, overlaying a wide patriotic appeal, have created the most vertically integrated performer in the music business--and a one-man cash machine. The long-term figures are even more impressive. Over his entire career--Keith has written a No. Full Coverage: Country Cash Kings So why don't most Americans know much about Keith?

Ask him, and he'll frame it as something of a conspiracy: "Years ago politics branded me as a cat that was an extreme right-wing guy. Media doesn't want to cover that. Keith's brilliance lies in recognizing that rather than try to appeal to everyone, he should leverage a base that is unusually loyal--a screaming, swaying annuity--and milk it for all it's worth.

But they'll play it forever. Complete Coverage: The Celebrity Unfortunately, it's also in the shop. He's renting a smaller Lear 45, which barely contains his 6-foot-4, pound frame he played defensive end in a semipro football league in his 20s. Luckily, it's just a short hop from Houston to Norman, Okla. Keith's success stems from the oil derricks around Norman. He's a native of nearby Moore, the Oklahoma town recently leveled by a tornado--which narrowly missed his house and hit his sister's he'll host a benefit concert for the town in July with Garth Brooks and Willie Nelson, among others.

He planned to go to college and study petroleum engineering. The inevitable bust followed, and Keith scrambled for part-time work as a bricklayer. They found more gigs in Texas and started making regular road trips.

To cut costs, they slept two to a room in seedy motels.