Only on the way to Nashville would this happen.

Travel days are not fun to begin with, whether it’s traffic, long TSA lines, or canceled flights; most travel days come with some “anything that can go wrong will go wrong” moments. But nothing is worse than getting on your flight and ready to take off, and then, being old, you have to sit in a cramped airplane seat while things get sorted out before taking off.

But on a recent flight, a musician got the honky tonk spirit flowing early during a delay to Music City with a little performance of some classic country songs. The flight attendants were searching for something to brighten passengers’ moods when they learned their take-off would be delayed, so they asked anyone in the cabin if they could provide entertainment. After one guy walked up to the front, he pointed out that his friend in the back of the plane wearing a cowboy hat was a stellar singer.

After coaxing him to the front of the plane, the man in the cowboy hat revealed he was a musician named Frankie Justin. His friend gets his guitar from the overhead bin and stands at the front of the plane with Justin bent over the intercom.

“Alright, we are going to do some Toby Keith here. We are going to boost everybody’s moods and get ready for Nashville. You ready?”

After the passengers cheer, he fires up a Toby Keith classic, “Should’ve Been A Cowboy.” The moment quickly went viral as Justin nailed the thick twangs of the song and truly brightened the spirits of those on the plane.

@sullivan_emma_ This has got to happen on Nash flights often #nashville #airline ♬ original sound – Emmasullivan

Someone from his camp also captured the moment, which he shared on his social media. The video shows a longer version of the performance and the crowd’s participation during the chorus.

“Only on flights to Nashville do they ask ya to sing for the plane.”

Justin started a little sheepish, not sure how the passengers would react., but let’s face it… this could have gone really well (like it did) or really poorly. Sometimes, hearing singing to “lift the moods” of pissed-off passengers can do the exact opposite. I am sure the flight attendants got the drinking flowing as the song continued, embodying Toby Keith’s “Red Solo Cup” mentality.

Toby Keith truly does bring everyone together. I hope the Big Dog Daddy was looking down and smiling at this moment.

@frankiejustinmusic Only on flights to Nashville do they ask ya to sing for the plane. God Bless Toby Keith! 🕊️ @Avelo Airlines #aveloairlines #nashville #tobykeith ♬ original sound – Frankie Justin

Toby Keith Put $20 Million Into OK Kids Korral

Toby Keith is a legend in more ways than one.

In February, the country community lost the icon Toby Keith at 62 after a lengthy battle with stomach cancer. Since his passing, friends, family, fellow country music stars, and more have all paid their respects to his music, his big heart, and his passion for helping others.

On a recent podcast Ten Year Town podcast episode, host Troy Cartwright had one of Keith’s friends and songwriting partners, Colt Ford, who open up about one thing that he wished more people knew about Toby Keith.

Outside of music, Keith is passionate about helping children with cancer, and he opened The Toby Keith Foundation in 2006. A huge portion of the foundation is the housing he offers for families with children receiving treatment in OKC. The OK Korral (similar to a Ronald McDonald house) provides places for families to stay without putting financial stress on them.

The website states:

“OK Kids Korral helps make life a little easier for children with cancer by providing a safe, convenient, and hopeful place for families to connect with each other and focus on the well-being of their child.

OK Kids Korral provides daytime and overnight lodging for pediatric patients and their families.The state of the art facilities at OK Kids Korral are designed to create a relaxing haven for the entire family.”

 

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Colt Ford tells Cartwright that he wished more people knew how much of his personal money Keith poured into the Korral each year not only to keep the doors open and continue helping families but also to ensure that it remained one of the best housing options.

“He puts about $20 mil out of his pocket to run. There’s a lot of guys doing stuff, you ain’t doing that. I know people go out and raise money and stuff, but they ain’t stroking a $20 mil check out of their pocket. First of all a very few can stroke that check…”

Ford then goes on to say that he went with him one day to the facility and was blown away by it, even comparing it to the Ritz Carlton, and families do not pay a penny to stay there.

“He paid for all that himself, man like that’s crazy.”

He then choked up telling the story of a man who was staying at the OK Korral who came up to him and Keith as they were leaving, expressing his gratitude towards Keith. The man was a blue-collar proud worker and just broke down to Keith expressing how if it was not for him and a place like the OK Korral, his son would not be able to get the treatment he needed. Ford said in that moment it hit him how important this was.

“And for a guy to just be that emotional, and to another man and just be that humble, and that grateful. It’s just like wow. I’d like to be able to do something like that. He is a legend… for real.”

It chokes you up hearing this, knowing that he had such a big heart for those dealing with cancer, and that would be what eventually took his life.

Toby Keith was a man of his community, and serving these families in OKC is just one aspect of many of how he touched the lives of so many.