Keith is currently recovering from stomach cancer
This week’s CMT Hot 20 Countdown features an exclusive interview with country legend Toby Keith, his first on-camera interview in over a year. Host Cody Alan caught up with Keith last week when he was honored with the BMI Icon Award at the exclusive black-tie gala in Nashville. In the segment, the superstar talks about the everlasting importance of songwriting, today’s country radio and the possibility of hitting the road again.
The show airs Saturday, November 19th at 9 am ET/PT with an encore presentation on Sunday, November 20th at 8 am ET/PT, exclusively on CMT.
Earlier this year, the 61 year old singer/songwriter revealed a stomach cancer diagnosis that has forced him to cancel all 2022 Country Comes To Town Tour as he recovers. On November 4th, Keith treated a small crowd to his first public performance since the diagnosis when he performed an impromptu of Otis Redding’s “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse in Lexington, KY.
Keith attended the BMI ceremony where he spoke to the audience about songwriting. The BMI Icon Award is given to exceptional songwriters in recognition of their “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” In receiving this award, Keith joins an impressive list of country legends, including Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, and Hank Williams, Jr., as well as multi-genre royalty Stevie Nicks, Little Richard, Patti Labelle, James Brown, and more.
His current single, “Oklahoma Breakdown,” is from his latest album, Peso In My Pocket, that was released last fall. “Oklahoma Breakdown” follows the album’s first single, “Old School,” which marked the highest chart debut of Keith’s storied career.
