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Introduction
The 59th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, held on May 16, 2024, marked a poignant moment in country music history with a heartfelt homage to the late Toby Keith. More than three months after Keith’s passing from stomach cancer on February 5, 2024, at the age of 62, the ACMs became a stage for healing, remembrance, and raw emotion .
Country star Jason Aldean, a longtime friend of Keith, announced via Instagram Stories that he would deliver a special acoustic tribute to his late friend . Seated on simple stools with two accompanying guitarists, Aldean performed an emotionally stirring rendition of Keith’s debut 1993 hit, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy”—a song that had launched Keith to stardom and remained a cornerstone of his legacy .
As Aldean’s soulful chords filled the venue, the camera captured the emotional toll of the performance. On screen, Toby Keith’s widow, Tricia, and children—Shelley, Krystal, and especially son Stelen—were brought to tears. The moment when Stelen, visibly overcome with emotion, began to cry in the audience, crystallized the depth of their grief and the power of Aldean’s tribute .