Toby Keith continues to rack up Platinum and Gold certifications.
It’s still hard to believe that the country music world – and the world at large – lost Toby Keith back in February of this year. The “American Soldier” singer passed away at the age of 62 after a long battle with stomach cancer. Now, we’re closing in on the one year anniversary of his passing – which seems almost unfathomable.
Tributes to the Big Dog Daddy have basically gone on ever since he passed on in February. The University of Oklahoma implemented a Toby Keith sing along at every one of their home football games this past season, and that new tradition was most recently highlighted when country star Riley Green helped the crowd of 80,000 plus break into Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.”
Though we no longer have the country icon here with us on Earth, his spirit and his music will live on forever. That’s been incredibly evident as country music stars have honored him by adding TK covers into their setlists, as well as all of the important work that the Toby Keith foundation has been able to do to help families that are fighting cancer. And speaking of his music, the Big Dog Daddy is still earning RIAA certifications left and right.
That’s because following his passing early in 2024, Toby Keith’s 35 Biggest Hits rocketed to the very top of the Top Country Albums and all-genre Billboard Top 200 charts. To mourn and honor the loss of TK, fans all across the world fired up his music – and just kept listening to his catalogue. The increase in posthumous listenership led to many of his most beloved songs to either add onto their Gold and Platinum status, or achieve Gold and Platinum for the very first time.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) categorizes singles and albums based on the number of sales and/or streams it reaches. So 500,000 units gives an album or song “Gold” status, while reaching the 1,000,000 mark labels it as “Platinum.” If a song reaches 10,000,000, it’s certified as diamond.
Earlier this year, Toby Keith’s Should’ve Been A Cowboy album reached four-times Platinum, and his songs “Beer For My Horses” and “I Love This Bar” achieved three-times Platinum status. American Ride went Platinum, as did the song “Who’s Your Daddy?” And Bullets in the Gun, Keith’s album that released in 2010, was certified Gold by the RIAA.
And more recently, the Big Dog Daddy has added Platinum and Gold records for “God Love Her,” “Cryin’ For Me (Wayman’s Song),” “American Ride,” “Who’s That Man” and “Trailerhood.” Obviously, the country music world would much rather be able to share these accomplishments with Toby Keith. But it’s still heartwarming to see the recognition – and most importantly the impact – that Toby’s music continues to have even after his passing.
If you happen to be in the mood for a little bit more Toby Keith this holiday season, make sure to check out his remastered Christmas to Christmas album. It features the fan favorite “Old Toy Trains,” which was previously unreleased and was incredibly difficult to track down in recent years.
