06/02/2024
TOBY KEITH memory:
One of my favorite personal stories with Toby Keith was when I was working at CMT in Nashville, during the 2003 CMT Music Awards. My job that night was to es**rt the winning artist from the steps at the back of the stage and get them back to their seats. It was towards the end of the show. Toby had just won an award and the next award was being announced(which Kenny Chesney won.) There was only one award left, which was the "FAN VOTED" VIDEO OF THE YEAR award. This was the ONLY award that I did not have the winner on my awards sheet. Yes, I was given a sheet before the show with all the winners so I would know who absolutely had to be back in their seat. As Chesney was accepting his award, I intercepted Toby backstage and es**rted him to the elevator so he could be in his seat for the final award after the commercial break. As we were riding the elevator down, Toby said to me that he wanted to leave and go hang out with Willie Nelson on Willie's bus. I did know if he was going to win the "Video Of The Year" award or not as this was the only award I did not have on my winner's sheet. I asked Toby to please follow me back to his seat. He said he didn't want to go back to his seat. I then informed Toby that it was gonna get me in REALLY BIG TROUBLE if I did not get him back to his seat. Toby looked at me square in the eyes and said, "If you can give me a really good reason why I should go back to my seat, I will go." I looked Toby in the eyes and said, "I really need you to go back to your seat!" He and I stared at each other for about 5 seconds. Then Toby said, "I will go back to my seat." WHEW!!!! Fortunate for me, Toby DID WIN the Video Of The Year award!!!
God Bless Toby Keith.
RIP ol' friend!
