Toby's longtime band will join @laineywilson, @brooksanddunn, and @sammyhagar on stage to perform a tribute to Toby at the @CMT Awards. Tune in Sunday at 8/7c on @cbs. pic.twitter.com/KMeDeWdwQB

— Toby Keith (@tobykeith) April 6, 2024

Brooks & Dunn, Lainey Wilson, and Sammy Hagar each performed classic Toby Keith songs while TV screens behind them displayed clips from his many famous music videos. The artists were all accompanied by Toby’s long-time band, adding an extra special element to the evening.

Sammy Hagar sang “I Love this Bar,” and Lainey Wilson gave her take on “How Do You Like Me Now?!” Country duo Brooks & Dunn performed what is arguably Toby Keith’s biggest hit but appeared to have some challenges throughout the song.

Brooks & Dunn Get Mixed Reviews Following Their Toby Keith Tribute Appearance

Ronnie Dunn (70) and Kix Brooks (68) kicked off the tribute with “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” Toby Keith’s breakout single, and one of the most iconic songs in country music.

Throughout the performance, they struggled to stay in tune and in tempo with the band. At times, it appeared that they could not remember the correct lyrics to the song.

Fans quickly shared their thoughts online, some going as far as to say they “butchered” the performance.

via YouTube

Others wondered if there were unseen factors that could have contributed to the unsatisfactory performance on stage. Brooks & Dunn were close friends of Toby, and the emotion of the moment could have also affected their delivery.

via YouTube

Audience Members Were Emotional During The Tribute

Despite the challenges, the collective tribute to Toby Keith was powerful and honored his legacy in country music. All three of Toby’s children were in the audience at the CMT Music Awards and could be seen wiping away tears as they sang along to their father’s classic songs.

See for yourself – Watch Brooks & Dunn perform “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” at the 2024 CMT Music Awards in the video below!