Toby Keith Reveals He Was Shot At During USO Tour

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Throughout Toby Keith’s remarkable career, he accomplished many significant milestones. Yet, he wasn’t just praised for his chart-topping hits— he was also celebrated for his incredible support for the U.S. military, devoting many years of his career to entertaining troops stationed overseas, participating in multiple USO tours for over a decade.

 

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Toby Keith Recalls a Time He Was Shot At During a USO Tour

During an interview in June of last year, Toby Keith revealed a story he rarely discusses, recalling the moment his helicopter came under small arms fire in route to a base.

“We don’t talk about it much because we want people to go over there,” Keith said lighthearted. “We don’t want to discourage anyone from going.”

Keith described how, between bases, he often traveled by military helicopter. He remembered a specific incident when the helicopter tilted sideways, making him question the pilot out of concern for their safety.

Unfortunately, without a headset, he couldn’t hear the pilot’s communication. However, the pilot told Keith that he would give him an explanation after landing. Eventually, it was revealed that they had encountered small arms fire, with bullets being fired at them during the flight.

Despite the dramatic situation, Keith jokingly responded, “Well it would’ve been nice to give a cowboy a shotgun or something.”

Remembering Toby Keith’s Patriotism

Toby Keith’s patriotism went beyond words. In total, he embarked on 11 USO tours, beginning his journey in 2002. His goal was to bring a taste of home to service members stationed far from their families.

 

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During his career, he consistently demonstrated his values of patriotism and respect for the military. His death on February 5, 2024, at 62 years old, left a void in the music world. Yet, his legacy as a passionate advocate for the U.S. military and his important contributions to country music will be remembered for many years to come.