Toby Keith Had Three Children – Meet Them All Here
on Sep 29, 2023 • Updated Jul 08, 2026
Following his death in 2024, Toby Keith‘s legacy lives on through his children: Shelley, Krystal, and Stelen, whom he shared with his wife, Tricia.
Country music superstar Toby Keith married Tricia Lucus in 1984. But he wasn’t a famous country singer when they wed. She took his true last name, Covel, and their kids use that name as well.
Toby worked in an oil field when he married Tricia, and he only made $50,000 a year. He sang at local clubs after his shift ended.
Eventually, Toby switched to performing music as his full-time job. People told Tricia that Toby was silly for chasing his musical dreams, but she stuck by him.
Toby’s hard work paid off; his big break came in 1993 after releasing “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.”
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Although Tricia usually stays out of the spotlight, she worked behind the scenes with Toby on several projects. She now serves as the President on the Board of Directors for the Toby Keith Foundation.
Toby and Tricia were married for just shy of 40 years before he passed away on February 5, 2024. They shared three children, one of them being a singer herself.
Meet Toby Keith’s Three Children: Daughters Shelley and Krystal, And Son Stelen
Shelley
Shelley is Tricia’s daughter from a previous relationship. She was born in 1980. Toby adopted her after he and Tricia married in 1984.
Not much is known about Shelley, as she chooses to live a mostly private life. She is married and has children of her own.
You can see a young Shelley in the photo above with her baby sister, Krystal.
Krystal
Krystal is the most recognizable of Toby and Tricia’s three kids. She was born in 1985, just one year after her parents married.
At age 19, Krystal made her musical debut as a featured vocalist on Toby’s cover of the song “Mockingbird.” They also performed the song at the CMA Awards that year.
Their version of the song reached the 27th spot on the Hot Country Songs chart.
Krystal attended college at the University of Oklahoma. After graduation, she chose to pursue her own music career. She signed with Toby’s Show Dog Nashville label in 2013.
Her debut single was a song she wrote to surprise Toby, titled “Daddy Dance with Me.” The first time she ever sang it was on her wedding day.
“Daddy Dance with Me” reached the 58th spot on the Hot Country Songs chart. Krystal’s debut album, Whiskey & Lace, claimed the #12 spot on the Heatseekers Albums chart.
After Toby passed away, Krystal delivered a powerful performance of his song “Don’t Let the Old Man In” during the American Icon tribute special that aired on NBC in August 2024, and re-aired one year later.
Krystal married Andrew Robert Sandubrae in 2010. They share two daughters: Hensley Jack and Kirby Kaye.
Stelen
According to his Instagram page, Stelen serves in the owner/venture management role at the restaurant and music venue Hollywood Corners and the Tex-Mex restaurant and tequila bar Tequila Chulos.
He is also the Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Toby Keith Foundation (his sisters, Krystal and Shelley, are board members).
Stelen married his longtime girlfriend, Haley, in 2021. They welcomed their first child, a daughter named Millie, in August 2025.
See More Photos Of Toby Keith & His Children Below
Toby’s Kids Expressed Their Support For Him Following His Cancer Diagnosis
In 2022, Toby revealed he’d been diagnosed with stomach cancer. He kept his cancer battle private for several months before sharing the news.
At the time, Toby said he was taking a break from performing to focus on his treatments and spend time with his family. He performed a few times after that, most notably at the People’s Choice Country Awards in 2024.
It was his final televised performance before he passed away.
Toby’s kids shared their love and support for him after he went public with his cancer diagnosis. Stelen said:
“He’s a fighter, has done all the measures to mitigate it and needs rest to get back to his self. Please keep the prayers flowing, but know this is all going to be in the rear view a short ways down the road.”
After Toby was honored with the Country Icon Award at the People’s Choice Country Awards, Krystal said:
“He has been my lCON since day 1 and in the last 6 months he has been honored with not one but 2 Icon Awards for the work he dedicated his life to. I love that he is getting recognition as not just MY icon, but an Icon to the music industry and fans.”
It’s clear that Toby and Tricia raised three loving and supportive children. See more photos of their family in Krystal’s lyric video for the Christmas song “O Holy Night,” which you can watch below.
Toby Keith died on February 5, 2024. His kids have continued to honor him in various social media posts and other tributes, ensuring the world never forgets who he was or what he believed in.
They’re also dedicated to continuing his mission with the OK Kids Korral, a cost-free place for children with medical needs to stay with their families while they receive treatment in Oklahoma.
May Toby Keith rest in peace…
