Editor’s note: Country music star Toby Keith died Feb. 5, 2024, following a battle with stomach cancer, at the age of 62. Here is our 2012 interview with Keith before his performance in West Palm Beach.
Before Brad Paisley said no, before Keith Urban was asked, Toby Keith turned down American Idol. They offered the 51-year-old Oklahoma native “a beaucoup-lot of money, a really big number,” Keith said by phone from Georgia.
“Ten years ago, I would have probably jumped on it but I’ve been around enough to know that I don’t have the energy to focus on something like that and I would want to do a great job. I’ve never seen the show, but I’ve done a couple of movies and it’s just really time-consuming.”
Not only would it take time from his touring schedule and his songwriting time, most importantly, it would take time away from his family.
The father of three married Tricia Lucus in 1984. She was a single mom and he adopted her daughter Shelley right after they married. He’s also the father of Krystal, a blossoming singer/songwriter, and Stelen, who Keith calls Steelman, who is in 10th grade.