‘90s Neotraditional Country Star, 67, Recalls the Injury That Forced Toby Keith to Miss a Concert

Toby Keith passed away on Feb. 5, 2024, but his larger-than-life presence is still felt, and his memory lives on for his family, friends, and fans two years later. The country icon’s legacy continues not only through music, but through stories shared by his fellow artists, who often reminisce over the good times they had with the late “As Good as I Once Was” hitmaker before his untimely death. 

Such is the case for Aaron Tippin, who laughs when he recalls one particular fond — and slightly painful — memory of a past time he shared with Keith — a time when the Okie broke his ankle. For Tippin, the memory, while fuzzy, finds him insisting, Keith broke his leg. 

Toby Keith Spontaneously Decided to Suit up and Play Some Football

While appearing on Taste of Country Nights, Tippin said the incident occurred in Tulsa, Oklahoma. During a visit to a nearby college, Keith mustered the guts to suit up, get out on the field, and join athletes in football practice. 

“Me and Tobe [Toby] worked together quite a bit. I’ll tell you a Toby story,” Tippin began. “We were in Tulsa, where he went to college, and he decided he was going to dress out with the football team, and so he did.”

Tippin notes that Keith didn’t just observe, he fully participated in the practice, a move that would remind him that “He had forgotten he’d gained a few years.”

“He practiced with them, and he got his leg broken,” Tippin shared, adding that “He missed the show that night; then for the rest of the tour, he was sitting on an old stool. He had forgotten he’d gained a few years.”

Despite the Injury, Toby Keith Had No Regrets

Per the outlet, a 1994 article by the Chicago Tribune provides more details on the past incident, clarifying that Keith did indeed break his ankle. The report also notes that despite the cost of having fun on the field, Keith had no regrets about the injury. 

“It’s been a fantasy for me to suit up with the Big Red and play with the great alumni,” Keith said at the time. 

Beyond that particular memory, Tippin revealed that he and Keith never really were competitive with each other. Instead, he joked, “In the early days, he opened some shows for me, but then he passed me like I was going backwards.” 

As previously noted, Keith died on Feb. 5, 2024, following a courageous battle with stomach cancer. He was 62.  Before his death, he enjoyed a remarkable 30-year career, which included 40 million albums sold, 32 No. 1 hits, and various monumental awards and accolades.   

Related: Toby Keith to Receive Major Honor in Home State Alongside Kenny Rogers and Ed Harris