Introduction:
Kid Rock Remembers Toby Keith: “A Great Man, A Great Patriot, and a Lot of Fun”
When news broke that Toby Keith had passed away at 62 after a battle with stomach cancer, one of the first to speak publicly was his longtime friend, Kid Rock—known offstage as Bobby Ritchie. Speaking from Nashville, Kid Rock recalled not only Toby’s talent but also his larger-than-life personality, his deep love for family, and his unwavering patriotism.
“He was such an incredible talent,” Kid Rock said. “He loved his family like he loved his country. And he was just a fun guy to be around. We called him ‘Big Dog’—he was a big man in every way.”
Kid Rock shared memories that captured Toby’s generosity and loyalty. At one awards show years ago, an incident outside a hotel left Kid Rock in a tense situation with police. Toby stepped in calmly, diffused the tension, and made sure things ended peacefully. “He handled it so elegantly,” Kid Rock remembered. “The very next morning, one of us was flying out to visit the troops. That’s the kind of guy he was—always ready to help, always ready to serve.”
Their friendship stretched from award show after-parties to quiet songwriting sessions. One night, Toby unexpectedly showed up at a Detroit club where Kid Rock was performing. They ended up back at Kid Rock’s home studio, sharing new songs—including I Lo, which woul
Kid Rock also reflected on Toby’s dedication to America’s servicemen and women. “We used to joke about who had gone over there more,” he said, noting that both had made numerous trips—often during holidays—to perform for troops overseas.