On Monday, July 29, the country music community united for a special evening at the American Icon tribute concert.

Organizers held the show to celebrate the life and enduring legacy of country music legend Toby Keith. Keith’s wife, Tricia, and his three children were all present for the evening.

The concert’s star-studded lineup featured performances by some of country music’s biggest names, including Luke Bryan, Trace Adkins, Eric Church, and many others.

In a particularly emotional moment, Toby Keith’s daughter, Krystal Keith, took the stage to deliver a heartfelt rendition of “Don’t Let The Old Man In,” a song that has taken on new meaning since her father’s passing. You can watch her performance in the video below.

Toby Keith: An American Icon will air on NBC on August 28th. While the concert was a spectacular and fitting homage to the late country star, beneath all the glitz and glamour lies a family still coming to terms with their loss.

During a candid pre-show interview, Toby Keith’s three children – Stelen, Shelley, and Krystal – opened up about their journey of grief and adaptation to life without their father.
When simply asked how they have been doing, Keith’s son, Stelen, answered:

“It’s pretty much a day-by-day thing. You know, emotions, you can’t ever predict them. It’s like you might wake up one morning and just be a wreck; you might wake up one morning and be okay. But it’s definitely just day by day.”

Shelley, Keith’s oldest daughter, then continued by saying she reminds herself that their dad isn’t gone and that he is still with them every day.

“You just survive, you know. I don’t think you lose someone that’s so great and so important in your life, you don’t get over it. You just have to get through it, you know, which means it’s always there…You just learn how to how to live differently. So, I think that’s what we’re doing,” Shelley said.

Their candid words remind us that Toby Keith’s family simply miss the father behind the great public image. As his children navigate life without him, they honor Toby Keith’s memory by embodying his resilience and generosity—a living tribute to a man who touched countless lives through his art and kindness.

We miss you, Toby!

You can watch his last televised performance below. He sang “Don’t Let The Old Man In” at the first-ever People’s Choice Country Awards.