Blake Shelton still isn’t over the loss of Toby Keith, and likely never will be. More than a year after Keith passed away, from stomach cancer, Shelton still misses his good friend, and musical mentor.

“He will be remembered as having the same impact as Merle Haggard or Waylon Jennings,” Shelton tells The Tennessean. “For me, losing his leadership and voice in our industry is like losing a big brother who might either put you in a headlock or, through his music, might be inspirational by reminding you what a legend sounds like.”

Shelton has been a big fan of the “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” singer, but there is actually someone who Keith says is an even bigger fan.

“Even though I toured with Toby for two years, Zuma, my middle son, is officially the biggest Toby Keith fan I’ve ever met,” Shelton says.

Shelton honored Keith when he was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame last year. Shelton performed “I Love This Bar” and “Red Solo Cup,” using a red, white and blue guitar that was custom-created for Keith.

“When they made those red, white and blue guitars for Toby, they made four of them and they gave Toby three of them,” Shelton recalls to Taste of Country. “And my friend David Vincent at Takamine, I reached out to him and said, ‘I’m doing this induction thing for Toby at the Hall of Fame and his family is gonna be there and I want it to be … I really wanna honor Toby. I wanna buy one of those red, white and blue guitars.'”

The one Shelton played was held back for Keith, should he need it. Keith tragically passed away before he could play the guitar, which now belongs to Shelton.

“And so that actually was the other one that Toby — he never got it,” Shelton reveals. “He probably never even knew it was made. I was able to get that, and they went ahead and gave it to me, which is gonna be a prized possession for me for the rest of my life.”

It was Keith who gave Shelton a helping hand early in Shelton’s career, at a time when Shelton desperately needed it.

“For almost two years I opened for Toby,” Shelton says. “It was a big deal for me, and he gave me that shot. I was kind of in a low spot as far as having any success at radio, and Toby kept keeping me out there. I think he knew it was helping me out, and it was.”

Shelton spoke out about Keith’s passing, shortly after the news was announced.

“Even though I knew about your battle these last few months I still never imagined this day,” Shelton wrote on social media. “Anyone who knew you knows what I mean. You were the toughest man I ever met. Thank you brother for being a friend, a hero and an inspiration. There will never be another Toby Keith.”