Toby chose an old favorite for them. “Mockingbird” was written by the brother-and-sister duo Inez and Charlie Foxx in 1963, inspired by the lullaby “Hush, Little Baby.” Over the years, it was covered by stars including Aretha Franklin, and by James Taylor and Carly Simon.
Toby recorded it as a duet with Krystal for his album Greatest Hits 2, released in November 2004.
Then came the 2004 CMA Awards. Krystal, just 19 years old, walked onto the stage beside her dad.
Father and daughter traded lines back and forth, their voices weaving over and around each other. She was singing in front of country music’s biggest stars, and she held her own.
When the song ended, Toby stretched out his hand toward her, as if to say, “Krystal Keith, everybody.” Then he pulled her into a hug, kissed her forehead and said, “That’s my girl.”
The song reached No. 27 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
But Toby didn’t push his daughter into show business. He insisted she get a college degree first. Krystal graduated from the University of Oklahoma, and only then did she start her own music career. Years later, she admitted, “He really did know best.”
Toby Keith died on February 5, 2024, at the age of 62, after a battle with stomach cancer.
Moments like this one are part of what he left behind: a proud dad, a microphone, and his little girl singing right beside him.
Did you ever sing with your mom or dad when you were growing up? Share this with someone who misses Toby Keith.