The country music world was stunned recently by the tragic death of Toby Keith.
But the Beer for My Horses hitmaker has one last gift for the world.
And this surprising news about Toby Keith’s music put a smile on the face of his fans.
Country music legend Toby Keith lost his battle with stomach cancer at the age of 62 in February.
The enormous impact he had on country music resulted in numerous tributes from his legion of fans and his fellow country artists.
Now, the final recording of his legendary career is being released.
Toby Keith’s final studio recording released
Country star Hardy released the album Hixtape: Vol. 3: Difftape, which features modern country artists remaking some of the biggest songs of the late 1990s country star Joe Diffie’s career.
Diffie was known for hit songs like Pickup Man and John Deer Green.
Included on the album is a remake of Diffie’s 1992 hit Ships That Don’t Come In featuring Keith, Hardy, Diffie, and Luke Combs.
“The lyrics of Diffie’s 1992 track tell the story of two men at a bar discussing life’s difficulties. Instead of drowning in their sorrows, they choose to celebrate the fact that their lives were full of chances and they toast to all those who never got the opportunity to live theirs to the fullest. The song includes nods to service members lost in the line of duty—a meaningful topic for Keith, a lifelong American patriot and proud supporter of our troops,” Southern Living reported.
Fans will be able to enjoy one final track from one of the most beloved country artists in the modern era.
Keith and Combs have lines in the song with Diffie’s original singing included in it.
Diffie – an Oklahoma native like Keith – passed away in 2020 from complications related to COVID-19 at the age of 61.
Keith paid tribute to Diffie after his death on social media.
“My kids grew up around his parents. My prayers will be with his family. A great traditional voice will live on cuz I’m putting his music on now. Here’s a beer to ya, Joe. Go get your reward,” Keith wrote.
Tribute paid to late Joe Diffie
Hardy’s 17-song album Difftape is a tribute to the career of Diffie using master recordings of his original songs for the remakes.
The album features some of the biggest names in country music, including Morgan Wallen, Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn, Reba McIntire, and Lainey Wilson.
“Joe epitomized the ’90s country voice — he was so good about hearing and cutting hits, recording amazing songs,” Hardy said in a statement. “On a personal level, I only got to meet Joe once, but he was extremely nice to me, and this was in my first year of being an artist when I was an absolute nobody. He was so, so kind to me and that memory I have of him is truly special to me, too.”
The legacies of Toby Keith and Joe Diffie will live on in their music for decades.
