Toby Keith parents are Hubert Keith Covel and Carolyn Joan Covel. He spent his early years with his two siblings – sister, Toni Covel, and brother, Tracy Covel.
Toby Keith, recognized for his diverse talents, was an American country music singer-songwriter, and record producer.
He rose to fame in late 1999, following the release of the single “How Do You Like Me Now?!” which was acclaimed as the top song of the 2000s.
Beginning with his self-titled debut album, he has released several albums such as “Boomtown,” “Pull My Chain,” “Bullets in the Gun,” “Peso in My Pocket,” and others. His discography includes 19 studio albums, 2 Christmas albums, and 5 compilation albums.
Besides his music career, he pursued acting, appearing in the 2005 film “Broken Bridges.” Additionally, he wrote and starred in the 2008 movie “Beer for My Horses.”
He had received several accolades throughout his career including the Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, the American Music Award for Favorite Country Male Artist, and the CMA Male Vocalist of the Year.
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Toby Keith Parents
His father Hubert Keith Covel and mother Carolyn Joan Covel welcomed Toby Keith on July 8, 1961.
Born in Clinton, Oklahoma, Keith and his family spent some years in Fort Smith, Arkansas, during his early grade school period.
Before relocating to Moore, he spent summers visiting his grandmother in Fort Smith. His grandmother owned Billie Garner’s Supper Club in Fort Smith, where Keith developed a keen interest in the musicians who entertained patrons.
His father served as a soldier and sustained an eye injury during his military service, resulting in the loss of vision in his right eye.
Keith’s popular song “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue” poignantly portrays the sacrifices soldiers endure to defend the United States, as illustrated by the incident.
Tragically, Keith’s father lost his life in a collision between a charter bus and his car on Interstate 35 on March 24, 2001. The Covel family received a settlement of $2.8 million for his wrongful death on December 25, 2007.
Elias and Pedro Rodriguez, operators of Rodriguez Transportes located in Tulsa, and the Republic Western Insurance Co. were found liable for neglecting to equip the bus with properly functioning air brakes.
After his father’s death, Keith’s mother, Carolyn, has stood as his greatest supporter throughout his career. Following his significant rise to fame in the music industry, he regarded his mother, Carolyn, as his first fan.
In October 2009, Keith discussed his mother’s influence on his musical inclinations in an interview. He said:
The earliest memory I have is [of] my mom. My mom is a singer. She had me when she was 20, and it was pretty much the end of her career. She had been looked at by some record execs who had come to my grandmother’s supper club, and they were looking at my mom as a singer. Her young pictures remind me of Patsy Cline.
As her son dominated the music industry over the decades, Carolyn was present during one of his final performances.
Following Keith’s passing on February 5, 2024, celebrities and singers across all genres paused to remember the country star, with a video emerging showcasing one of his final performances in Las Vegas.
Even while contending with stomach cancer, Keith organized three sold-out shows in Las Vegas in December, refusing to let it diminish the quality of his performance.
At his show on December 12 at Park MGM Las Vegas, the country star took a moment to introduce fans to his mother.
In the footage, Keith and his mother were shown embracing onstage, as Keith jokingly urged his mother to tell the audience to ‘go to hell,’ much to the amusement of the crowd.
Toby Keith Wife & Kids
Toby Keith blissfully tied the knot with his lovely wife, Tricia Lucus on March 24, 1984, after dating for three years.
Keith and Lucus encountered each other shortly after Keith completed high school. During that timeframe, he balanced his job in the oil fields with nightly performances at bars alongside his band, the Easy Money Band.
Lucus welcomed her first daughter, Shelley Covel Rowland, in 1980, prior to meeting Keith. Following their marriage, Keith legally adopted Shelley, and the couple later expanded their family with daughter Krystal in 1985 and son Stelen in 1997.
Shelley graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in elementary education in 2003, and she subsequently worked as an elementary school teacher for several years before transitioning to focus on raising her family.
Krystal shares her father’s passion for music and recording, while Stelen has forged his path as an entrepreneur, overseeing multiple ventures like Sellout Crowd, 405 Burger Bar, Tequila Chulos, and Hollywood Corners.
The couple remained married for almost four decades until the passing of the country singer on February 5, 2024. His death cause was stomach cancer.
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America lost a great Patriot. What A Guy!!
I can’t really believe he’s gone what a true American home “boy” attitude which we need more of
They weren’t kidding about “Only the GOOD die young” I have seen that a lot in my lifetime. God bless Toby and his family. You will always be heard in the music we listen to and sadly missed.
Never Would,Think that Type of Cancer could take a Man down that Fast An Toby was One, Mybe they will Find another treatment for It, My Mother was Under Kemo, An she went Fast, Also. You will be Missed Toby Keith,I play your Songs a lot ,My Apartment Has your Music ,Always, Playing .An like Alan Jackson said ,I Want too stroll over Heaven with you , Bye for Now Toby Keith
They broke the mold when they made Toby Keith what every thing I don’t know why this has taken such a hold of me , but what a world of great down to earth person that has shown a real not fake human being is supposed to be to bad they can’t fix that mold to guide others what God has made us naturally supposed to be what a natural well made and guided man God Bless, met him in Canton ohio
They will never be another one like Mr.Toby Keith! I was lucky enough to meet him walking down Duval St in Key West. That night he took pictures with everyone and he was so very nice. RIP my friend.
Great memories of Toby Keith,when I seen him in concert in El Dorado Arkansas,Toby sung solo cup,we all had a smashing good time,I will never forget that moment in my life,love from Arizona,rest easy Toby,rest easy .
I love Toby Keith he was a fabulous Entertainer an there will never be anyone that could ever fill his shoes,I watch Broken Bridges over an over my Heart an condolences 🙏 ☹️ 😔 😢 😥 goes to his wife Tricia an his 3 beautiful children 💙 his friends fans etc everyone that knows Toby loves him God bless you Toby will see you on the other side we love you an you will forever be missed RIP 🙏 my friend 🧡 God bless all of you
Toby lived the song he wrote ” should of been a cowboy” the reason I say this is because we have in our minds cowboys are tough and Toby road the cancer till his horse went down. He fought a hell of a fight. The last interview was the most touching about his faith. And that is good to know that him and his Creator was good. I know that no one will ever fill his shoes. He is gone but will never be forgotten. He was what country music is supposed to be. I send my condolences to his whole family. R.I.P. Toby. See you again later my friend. Play it sweet in heaven.later………
My niece Audrey Womack & myself use to go to Toby Keith’s concerts. Especially when he came to Cowboys. His manager Bill always made sure we were right there with the band. Audrey went to all his concerts every where he played. I was mostly with her at the local ones. We had a lot of fun. He was an Amazing sweet nice man. As was his manager & band members. RIP YOU WILL & ARE MISSED A LOT ALREADY!!
I never met him or went to any of his concerts, BUT STILL, I loved him, for so many reasons! All of which, came naturally to him..his music, his love of country, his deep love for his parents, wife, children, friends, fans and his unbridled sense of obligation, to support the troops,who served ALL OVER the world! Everything he did, he did with his heart. A true gentleman, who you’d NEVER catch looking at his watch, when he took time to perform overseas, for the troops. He CARED, and it showed. He lifted the spirits of thousands of servicemen and women. He was truly, the “Bob Hope” of this generation, when it came to entertaining for the military. It’s those type of things, that almost put him into the category of “unicorn”, but we ALL know he existed. I guess, that just makes him one-of-a-kind. Something others should aspire to be and I hope they do. The world would be a much better place.
Very well said,I miss him terribly,I ve Been crying about this every day, just horrible. He was the best
Thank you Big dog Daddy for all the songs, you were larger than life. Standing tall beside patriots and veterans like me and so many others! A blessing from one Okie to another BOOMER!! REST WELL!! KICK IT UP WITH WAYMAN!!
Amen. Toby & Wayman together again. Really miss him in NC. There will Never be another country artist like him. “Play it sweet in Heaven… Superstars… ”.
Being a Vietnam Veterans Wife, through Toby’s songs , the Vets were proud men again! Thanks for Your support to the Veterans , it met so much to Our Fighting Men. You will be missed! Condolences to all the Keith Family!
Crying for me. My truck driving husband text me 4am to say Toby had pasted away. I got this feeling that one gets when you get a call in the middle of the night that a loved one has pasted. I immediately turned on Crying for me. And I cried alot. I had not cried like that since I got the call that my oldest brother Butch had past. The past few days I hear TK songs in my head I find myself just suddenly humming along. Thinking he’s sing up in heaven for us all to hear. Rest in Peace my friend who I never met but loved like a brother.
Bev.
Toby Keith will Forever be missed by everyone. Country Music has lost a Superstar, but he’s singing with the Angels. God Bless Him.
R.I.P. Toby.. one of my favorites was should have been a cowboy.. I believe that was the first song I ever heard by him and ever since then I’ve always liked his songs.. he is one of the legends of country music.. he will be missed..
I’ve seen a number of Tobey Keith concerts and they never disappointed. As a veteran I’m grateful for all the work he did to help veterans whether it was putting on a show over seas or helping disabled veterans at home. He was truly a gift to this world. Tobey exemplified what it means to be a beautiful human being. May he rest in eternal peace and my condolences to his family in their time of sorrow.