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Ahead of NBC‘s concert special Toby Keith: American Icon, set to air Wednesday, August 28, Blake Shelton has shared a special tribute to his once-mentor.
In a preview shared by E! News, Shelton, 48, recalls the late Keith, and how he took him under his wing when he was getting started in the realm of country music.
“When I was just a baby artist coming up in the music industry, Toby was the first major artist to give me a chance,” Shelton said. “And I think it was because I was a fellow Oky.”
Jason Kempin/ACMA2018/Getty Images for ACM
Keith died this past February at 62, following a battle with stomach cancer, but his legacy lives on through his music. Shelton noted that he remembers Keith fondly, and he recalled many lessons he learned during their friendship.
“I looked up to Toby,” Shelton adds, “and I think I learned a lot being around him. Once you were in there, you were a lifetime member. There will never be another Toby Keith.”
Elsewhere in the preview, Reba McEntire, who also hails from Oklahoma, shared some words about Keith, whom she remembered him as having a heart the size of their home state. She also noted that Keith made sure to uplift other Oklahoman artists as his star continued to rise.
“A lot of people dream of making it big so they can leave their hometown,” said McEntire. “Toby wanted to make his hometown bigger. And when he made it big, he took the whole state with him.”
Toby Keith: American Icon will feature performances by Shelton, McEntire, along with Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Jelly Roll, Eric Church, Ashley McBryde, Darius Rucker, Lainey Wilson and more.
Fans can tune into the concert on Wednesday, August 28, at 9 p.m. on NBC, and stream the special on Peacock the following day.