This tribute to Toby Keith left his family stunned

National Archives at College Park - Still Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

He started taking the country music world by storm in the 1990s, and soon, Toby Keith was a music crossover success.

The late singer had legions of fans, and the respect of many in the music industry.

After his untimely death, Toby Keith received this tribute that left his family stunned.

Country music legend Toby Keith sadly passed away in February, after a long and grueling battle with stomach cancer.

Boomer, Boomer Sooner

Tributes have rolled in from his fellow country artists and fans almost continuously since his untimely death.

Keith, an Oklahoma native, was a die-hard fan of the University of Oklahoma Sooners.

Although Keith himself never attended college, the Sooners were always near and dear to his heart.

He frequently attended football, basketball, and baseball games at the school, cheering on his beloved Sooners.

Keith went to work in the oil industry after high school, while forming a country band that he played with when he wasn’t working in the oil fields.

When he was laid off from the oil industry during the bust in the 1980s, he played some semi-pro football with the Oklahoma City Drillers as a defensive end, while continuing to play country music.

Then he moved to Nashville to try and jump-start his country career and he hit it big.

Oklahoma Sooners pay tribute to Toby Keith across multiple sports

The University of Oklahoma has paid tribute to one of their most famous fans since his passing.

During halftime of the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State men’s basketball game in February, Sooner fans sang Keith’s hit “Red Solo Cup,” while holding up red Solo cups to honor the late singer.

And Keith’s seat was left empty at the game, with only a red Solo cup and a guitar located in his spot.

Then, during the football team’s annual spring football game, the field at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium was painted with his name and likeness.

Keith’s love of the Sooners revealed in a bet with Roger Clemens

The “Red Solo Cup” singer was good friends with former Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens, who played college baseball at Oklahoma’s archrival, the University of Texas.

And Clemens’ two sons, Kody and Kacy, also played college baseball for Texas, which resulted in Keith making a bet with them.

“Toby told my boys, ‘if you get a home run off of our Oklahoma pitcher today, I’ll sit on your dugout and sing ‘The Eyes of Texas’ with you,’” Clemens recalled.

Sure enough, one of Clemens’ sons hit a home run against Oklahoma and Keith had to make good on his bet.

“And true to form, Toby sat on the dugout,” Clemens said. “And with his funny wit, he sang ‘I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.’ No chance Toby was going to sing ‘The Eyes of Texas.’”

Texas’ fight song, The Eyes of Texas, is set to the tune of I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.

Toby Keith to receive honorary degree from Oklahoma

Keith is now set to receive a posthumous honorary degree from Oklahoma that will be given to his family at the school’s May graduation ceremony.

“Through their exceptional talents, transformative leadership, and unwavering commitment to serving others, each of this year’s honorary degree recipients has left an indelible mark on the world,” Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz said. “Their profound dedication has touched countless lives, and we take great pride in conferring the university’s highest honor upon them.”

Toby Keith is getting a special tribute from the university that meant so much to him.

And it is well-deserved.

Informed American will keep you up-to-date on any developments to this ongoing story.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR