Apple Music Honors Toby Keith With Playlist of Cover Songs From Ella Langley, Riley Green, and More

Toby Keith died on Feb. 5, 2024, at the age of 62 after battling stomach cancer.

Country music superstar Toby Keith performs during day 2 of Stagecoach: California's Country Music Festival 2010 held at The Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif., on April 25, 2010. Christopher Polk/Getty Images

Apple Music has released a very special playlist honoring Toby Keith, ahead of what would have been the late country singer’s 64th birthday, celebrated on July 8.

The streaming platform announced the new Apple Music Nashville Sessions compilation, titled “Toby Keith Covered,” in an Instagram post on Tuesday.

The collection features six covers of Keith’s most treasured tunes, performed live by country artists Ashley McBryde, Megan Moroney, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, Tucker Wetmore, and Ella Langley.

“From anthems that stirred national pride to ballads that captured the American heart, Toby Keith’s music carved a bold, unapologetic path and inspired many with his gritty vocals, sharp songwriting, and unwavering authenticity,” Apple Music Country shared online.

“To celebrate his life and his profound impact on the genre, six artists pay homage to Toby Keith by putting their spin on some of his greatest hits.”

Keith died on Feb. 5, 2024, at the age of 62 after battling stomach cancer. He was formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame later that year.

To honor his enduring legacy, each of the six artists opted to cover one of Keith’s songs that was especially meaningful to them, telling Apple Music Country the reason behind each of their selections.

McBryde, Green, and Langley performed renditions of songs from Keith’s debut self-titled album, “Toby Keith,” released in 1993.

McBryde sang “A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action,” calling it “one of [her] mainstays.”

Green belted out “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” a song he’s loved since he was a kid. “That was one of my favorite Toby Keith songs,” he explained.

Langley took on “Wish I Didn’t Know Now,” sharing that she appreciated how Keith always gave his all during his performances.

“He gives 100 percent of himself,” she said. “Whether it was through being onstage or being in a writers’ room, he just told the truth and was honest about what he believed in. It’s inspiring.”

McCollum sang “Who’s That Man” from Keith’s 1994 album “Boomtown,” while Moroney performed “Who’s Your Daddy?” from the 2002 album “Unleashed.”

“It is my band’s hype song that we play before every single show, so much so that it made it into our pre-show playlist,” Moroney shared. “It hypes me up, it gets me ready for a show, and it’s just iconic.”

Wetmore chose “As Good As I Once Was” from Keith’s “Honkytonk University” album, released in 2005.

“When I hear the word ‘legacy,’ I think of legends, and Toby Keith is definitely one of those legends in my book,” he told Apple Music Country.

“Like the old saying goes, legends never die, and neither will his music.”