Blake Shelton was one of the artists who performed in tribute to Toby Keith, when Keith was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame,. Shelton performed a medley of “I Love This Bar” and “Red Solo Cup,” using a red, white and blue guitar that Keith was notorious for using when he performed.

Ironically, although it was a rare guitar, made specifically for Keith, it was not one that he had used before.

“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.'”

@everythingnash @blakeshelton honors @tobykeithofficial with a performance of “I Love This Bar” at the Country Music Hall of Fame. #blakeshelton #tobykeith ♬ original sound – EverythingNash

Vincent said he had kept that guitar back in case Keith ever needed one sent to him on tour, although Keith never got to use it before he passed away earlier this year.

“And so that actually was the other one that Toby — he never got it,” Shelton shares. “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.”

Shelton and Keith, both from Oklahoma, were also good friends, with their relationship dating back to the early days of Shelton’s career.

“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 also remarked on Keith’s notorious way of evading awards and accolades, in spite of his overwhelming success, even at the peak of Keith’s career.

“I said, ‘Hey, man … if I ever do get nominated for a CMA, I hope it’s against you because I know damn good and well that you’re not gonna beat anybody,” Shelton remembers joking with Keith. “He sat there a minute and he goes, ‘You know why I keep you out on tour with me? Because I wanna prove to everybody that I don’t actually need an opening act.”

“Toby was quick like that,” he adds. “You could never get one on him, because he was ready every time.”

It was Shelton who presented Keith with the People’s Country Icon Award, at the 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards. Keith performed “Don’t Let The Old Man In,” which marked his final televised performance.

“Even though I knew about your battle these last few months I still never imagined this day,” Shelton wrote on social media, after news of Keith’s passing was announced. “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.”

Eric Church also honored Keith with a chilling acoustic performance of “Don’t Let The Old Man In,” while  Post Malone performed “I’m Just Talking About Tonight.”

Photo Credit: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum