Toby Keith’s Widow Gives Powerful 16-Minute Speech at His Country Music Hall of Fame Induction

Yesterday (October 20), Toby Keith was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame alongside James Burton and John Anderson. The world learned that Keith would join the CMHoF one day after his death in February. While his son Stelen has been the family’s spokesman. Last night, though, Keith’s widow, Tricia Covel took the stage to accept her late husband’s medallion and deliver a stirring speech in his honor.

Keith’s induction featured performances from Post Malone, Eric Church, and Blake Shelton. However, the highlight was seeing his widow and their son take the stage to accept Keith’s medallion.

[RELATED: Toby Keith, John Anderson, and James Burton Officially Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame]

Stelen stood behind Mrs. Covel as she spoke, seemingly offering moral support while letting her say her piece, according to Taste of Country. “There will never be another Toby Keith,” she told the audience. Then, she spoke about the connections she’s made with fans since his passing earlier this year. “People walk up to me randomly and they shake my hand and say, ‘You’re Toby’s wife, aren’t you?’ I Say, ‘Yes, I am.’ They say, ‘I miss him every day,’ and I say, ‘Me too’ and we’re both crying,” she said.

Tricia Covel Pays Tribute to Toby Keith During Her Acceptance Speech

Tricia Covel has been relatively quiet in the months since Toby Keith’s passing. However, she didn’t hold back in her 16-minute speech at the Country Music Hall of Fame which was her first-ever public speech.

During her speech, she highlighted Keith’s attitude. “He didn’t care what anybody said. He was a patriot, he loved his country. Toby loved hard and lived big. He enjoyed everything he did. He had no regrets,” she said of her late husband.

While Keith had an impact on countless fans and left his mark on the country music world, he was more than that. “He was a wonderful husband, father, a son, grandfather, or pop-pop to our grandkids. Brother, friend, singer, producer, businessman—he was masterful at everything he did,” she said.

Summing things up, Mrs. Covel said, “His music, his generosity, and his humanity will outlive not only us, but our children and their children.”

Featured Image by Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock