Toby Keith Covel, known professionally as Toby Keith, was an American country music singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer. He was the second child of Joan and Hubert Keith (HK) Covel. He was born in Clinton, Oklahoma, and grew up with his sister (Tonnie) and his youngest sibling (a brother, Tracy) in Moore, Oklahoma. After graduating from Moore High School, Toby did not go on to college but went to work in the Oklahoman oil fields with his father. He later married Tricia Lucus, whose child, Shelley Reeve, he adopted. He then had two children with Tricia - Krystal (born in 1985 and married in 2011) and Stelen (born in 1997).
Around the time that Krystal was born, the Oklahoma oil industry collapsed and left the family in financial trouble. Touring with his band, the Easy Money Band, Toby got them out of debt. After signing a deal at Mercury Records, his debut album "Toby Keith," which contained his first chart-topper, "Should've Been A Cowboy," finally established him as a professional singer/songwriter. He then left Mercury for three years. Coming back in 1997, he released his final studio album for Mercury, "Dream Walkin'."
A year after his first Greatest Hits compilation came out from Mercury, he and his producer, James Stroud, left the label. He then signed with DreamWorks Records, headed by his producer. Keith released his fifth album, "How Do You Like Me Now?!" with Showdog Tunes, formerly DreamWorks, and went on to greater success. That success can be measured with at least five more studio albums since "How Do You Like Me Now?", more #1 singles, Academy of Country Music Awards (including two "Entertainer of the Year" awards), numerous other awards, and another Greatest Hits compilation (including songs from albums "How Do You Like Me Now?", "Pull My Chain," and "Unleashed," and a cover of "Mockingbird" with his daughter Krystal, who was scheduled to release her debut album in December 2011).
Toby Keith died after battling stomach cancer, starting in June 2022.
