Toby Keith’s net worth is a testament to how successful the famous country musician has been in his craft.
Only a few country musicians have made the impact Toby Keith has since he rose to fame in the industry. The country musician first came to worldwide attention with his 1993 self-titled album. Keith’s first album, released under Mercury Records, was later certified platinum. His two follow-up albums, “Boomtown,” released in 1994, and “Blue Moon,” were also equally booming.
The album “How Do You Like Me Now,” released in 1999, earned Keith two Academy of Country Music Awards in 2000. In addition, his 2001 song, inspired by the tragic event of September 11, “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American),” became hugely controversial and popular among American military personnel. Still, in 2002 and 2003, Keith was named Entertainer of The Year by the Academy of Country Music.
Keith continued his success in the music scene with the release of “Shock’n Y’All” in 2003. The album reached the peak of the country and pop album charts genre. The album title is a play on the military expression “shock and awe” from the Iraq war. It further reiterates Keith’s popularity with the military. “American Soldier,” his ode to the troops, was also very successful. Then in 2004, he and Willie Nelson won an ACM award for the video of their duet “Beer for My Horses.”
He won the ACM award for best music award again the following year for the song “As Good As I Once Was.” The ballad from the album “Honkytonk University,” also helped the album top the country and pop charts. In 2005, Keith got inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
Toby Keith’s Net Worth and Continued Success
In 2008, Keith made his big screen debut, starring in the comedy “Beer for My Horses” inspired by his song of the same title. He also co-wrote the movie’s screenplay and served as co-producer. That same year, he released another album, “That Don’t Make Me a Bad Guy,” which, like his previous albums, topped the country album charts.
In 2009, the musician’s “America’s Toughest Tour,” took him around the United States and Europe. Then, in 2017, Keith received one of his greatest life honors when he performed at Donald Trump’s pre-inauguration concert at the Lincoln Memorial. Before the inauguration, Keith had also performed at events featuring previous presidents, George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
Besides being regarded as one of the most excellent country musicians, Keith is among the richest. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Keith is worth a whopping $365 million. The musician has earned large chunks of his wealth from album sales, concert earnings, and other business ventures.
Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue Took Just 20 Minutes To Write
When the song “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American) got released, it generated a lot of controversy for Keith due to its lyrics. The musician was even asked to soften the song’s lyrics before appearing on the patriotic special produced by ABC. However, when Keith refused, he was subsequently removed from the lineup.
Still, Keith narrated the story behind the song during a media event where he explained that the September 11, 2001 attacks and his father’s death inspired him to write “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American).” He said:
“My father had begged me for years to go on USO Tours, and I was so busy — we were doing 130 shows a year — that I just didn’t have it in my schedule. Finally, he passed away in March [of 2001], and then 9/11 happened. I was like, “Now I have to go honor him.”
Keith explained after the attacks, he felt Americans should have been angrier by the devastation they suffered. He then wrote the lyrics to the song on the back of the Fantasy Football sheet and was done in about 20 minutes. However, the idea to release it as a single came from a Marine commander who heard him while performing to the troops.
Keith’s Top-Charting Song “How Do You Like Me Now?” Almost Didn’t Get Released
Keith’s “How Do You Like Me Now?” is one of the best songs the musician has released in his career. However, the country legend had to fight to have one of the biggest radio hits of the country music industry released. Keith left Mercury Records when they refused to allow him to release the song as a single.
After buying all his music from the record label, he moved to Dreamworks Records in Nashville. However, they also refused to release the song as a single and instead chose “Now Love Fades.” Finally, after the song’s weak performance, the label heeded Keith’s cry and released “How Do You Like Me Now?”
The song would spend five weeks as the number- song on the country music charts. It also became Keith’s first top 40 hit music and was the number country song of 2000. “How Do You Like Me Now?” would later earn Keith the Top Male Vocalist and Album of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards a year later.
Keith Has Been Married For 38 Years
Besides being a massive country music star, Keith is also a dedicated family man. The musician met his wife, Tricia Lucus, years before he even started singing. Most people then doubted Keith’s prospects as a singer, but Tricia believed in him. The duo had met in an Oklahoma nightclub in 1981, and at the time, Tricia was working as a secretary for an oil company.
After having a dance, the two got closer and started dating. Keith knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. The duo tied the knot after three years of dating. Afterward, Keith adopted Tricia’s daughter Shelley, and the pair have since welcomed their kids Krystal and Stelen.