Toby Keith (1961–2024) was a prominent American country singer and songwriter known for his patriotic themes and blending of traditional and modern country sounds. His 1993 debut album, Toby Keith, featured the hit song "Should’ve Been a Cowboy," which topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for two weeks, launching him into country music stardom.
Keith released at least one album or compilation per year from 2001 to 2013. His song "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)," a response to the September 11 attacks, sparked controversy and a feud with Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks, though Keith remained steadfast in expressing American pride. In 2015, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and posthumously into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2024.