Hank Williams Jr. Is All Smiles Watching Toby Keith Sing ‘Country Boy Can Survive’

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During CMT Giants: Hank Williams Jr in November 2007, several artists paid tribute to the legendary Hank Williams Jr – including Toby Keith.

Other performers included Kid Rock (“My Name Is Bocephus”), Alan Jackson (“Blues Man”), Lynyrd Skynyrd (“Born To Boogie”), Brad Paisley (“There’s a Tear in My Beer”), Steven Tyler (“All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight”), Tim McGraw (“Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound”), Gretchen Wilson (“All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down”), and Shooter Jennings and Holly Williams (“The Conversation”).

Hank Jr. took the stage to close out the show with his good buddy Kid Rock for “Dixie On My Mind.”

“All my rowdy friends have not settled down,” said Hank Williams Jr. during the taping., which took place at Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

During the two-hour taping of the show, country music superstar Toby Keith paid tribute to Williams Jr. with a rowdy rendition of his iconic “A Country Boy Can Survive.”

During his masterful rendition of the ’80s mega hit, Hank Jr. can be seen in the audience all smiles watching Keith sing his song.

Prior to Keith taking the stage, Dick and Walt Willy, the father-son duo who saved Williams Jr. following his life-changing accident on the Montana mountains after he fell over 500 feet down a snow-ridden mountain, took the stage to speak. Dick and Walt told the story of that infamous day in history, ending their tale by saying Williams Jr. is living proof that “A Country Boy Can Survive.”

“A Country Boy Can Survive” was written and recorded by Williams Jr. in 1981, the song climbing to No.2 on the country chart. While the song never hit No.1, the iconic country song is widely considered one of his signature tunes.

Any performance of Toby Keith’s now feels a bit different since his death on February 5, 2024.

Toby Keith passed away after a two-year battle with stomach cancer. His family released the following statement on Tuesday (Feb. 6):

“Toby Keith passed peacefully last night on February 5th, surrounded by his family. He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.”

 

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You can watch Keith’s performance below.