Late country music singer Toby Keith has a surprising connection to pop sensation Taylor Swift, who launched her music career nearly 20 years ago.
Keith, who passed away on Monday, February 5 after a long battle with stomach cancer, was known for his hit songs such as ‘Red Solo Cup’ and ‘As Good As I Once Was’. The country music singer first announced his cancer diagnosis in June 2022.
He was surrounded by his family at the time of his death, who shared “he fought his fight with grace and courage.”
Throughout Keith’s very successful music career, he worked with many other artists, including the one and only Taylor Swift.
Toby Keith Once Worked Closely With Taylor Swift
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When Taylor Swift first launched her music career, she got a deal with Big Machine Records, a business that Keith and his production company, Keith’s Dog-Universal Music, were working closely with at the time.
In 2005, the pop icon spoke on what it was like to partner with the ‘I Love This Bar’ artist. “You’re in the room with him and you can feel it, there’s a power there,” Swift told Nashville’s WSMV4 at the time. “And you’re just like ‘Oh my God.’ ”
“I don’t think I’ll ever get to a point where I don’t see him and are just like, ‘Oh my God that’s Toby Keith’,” she added.
While the Big Machine Music and Keith’s Dog-Universal Music partnership ended in 2006, both Keith and Swift went on to become some of the biggest names in the music industry.
Swift went on to produce five more albums under Big Machine Records — ‘Fearless’ (2008), ‘Speak Now’ (2010), ‘Red’ (2012), ‘1989’ (2014), and ‘Reputation’ (2017) — while Keith continued to own minority positions in Big Machine Records.
Country Music Stars Pay Tribute To Toby Keith
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After learning of the news, many country music stars took to social media to pay tribute to the ‘Red Solo Cup’ singer, who passed away after a long battle with stomach cancer.
Carrie Underwood shared a photo of her and Keith on Tuesday, writing, “Saddle up the horses, Jesus, ‘cause a true blue COWBOY just made his ride up to heaven!!! Introduce him to all the Okies and sign that boy up for the choir!”
The ‘Before He Cheats’ singer went on to say, “We’re gonna miss you, Toby, but my heart has no doubt that you are standing in the presence of our King right now!!! See you again someday, friend.”
Zach Bryan, known for his hit song ‘Something In The Orange’, took to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, to share, “Too many rides in my old man’s car listening to Toby Keith. Really hard thing to hear. Rest in peace, friend. We love you.”
As Randy Houser sang “one of his favorite” songs by Keith — a rendition of ‘I Love This Bar’.
“An American icon. They do not make em like him every day in my opinion,” Rouser wrote in the caption of the clip, adding, “It’s late at night or early in the morning, but I wanted to sing one in his honor no matter what time it is. Rest In Peace. Job well done.
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Country music band Old Dominion also took to social media to share, “Toby Keith was a true trailblazer. Authentic and heartfelt but always with a wink ‘til the end.”
The band added, “He was larger than life in so many ways and his music will live on forever! Raising our red solos tonight—you will be missed by so many. Peace.”
And, Jason Aldean said it was “a sad day for Country music and its fans” as the world lost someone who was a “huge presence in [the country music] business.” Keith is “someone we all looked up to and respected,” Aldean said.
Taylor Swift has yet to comment on the passing of Toby Keith.