More than two years after his passing, Toby Keith is still owning the summer — and now he’s owning a state holiday, too. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has officially declared July 8, 2026, “Toby Keith Day” in the Sooner State, honoring what would have been the country superstar’s 65th birthday.

The proclamation was presented to Keith’s daughter, singer-songwriter Krystal Keith, during Oklahoma Film and Music Day 2026 at the state Capitol in April. Krystal opened the event with a soaring rendition of the national anthem in the Capitol rotunda, while a red, white and blue guitar and Toby’s signature white cowboy hat were displayed nearby — a fitting tribute to the Clinton-born, Moore-raised, Norman-based icon.

The proclamation salutes Keith for “rising from humble beginnings to become one of the most successful, influential, and recognizable country music artists in American history.” That’s not hyperbole: 40 million albums sold, 42 Top 10 hits, 10 billion-plus streams, a National Medal of Arts, and a Songwriters Hall of Fame induction — all earned over a three-decade run.

Timed neatly with America’s 250th birthday, Keith’s original composition “Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue (The Angry American)” once again roared to No. 1 on both the Apple Music and Spotify all-genre Top 100 charts this past week. The track — now certified 5x-platinum by the RIAA — remains one of the defining patriotic anthems of the modern country era.

Fans looking to spin the classics the old-school way finally got their wish over Memorial Day weekend: UMe released “Toby Keith’s 35 Biggest Hits” on vinyl for the first time ever. Originally issued as a two-CD set back in 2008, the new three-LP edition runs from his 1993 debut smash “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” through 2006’s chart-topping “A Little Too Late,” with signature cuts like “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “I Love This Bar,” “As Good As I Once Was,” and “Who’s Your Daddy?” packed in between. The RIAA platinum-certified collection has spent 250 weeks on Billboard’s all-genre Top 200 — including five in the Top 10, a career landmark for Keith.

Grab the three-LP set here: https://tobykeith.lnk.to/35BiggestHits3LP

Off the charts, Keith’s humanitarian legacy is thriving. The 22nd Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic raised more than $1.35 million last month, pushing the event’s all-time total past $21 million. Proceeds benefit OK Kids Korral, the cost-free home for families of children receiving medical care that Keith once called “the best gift I’ve ever given to the world.”

So on July 8, 2026, crank up the anthems, raise a cold one, and celebrate a true American original. Stream Toby Keith on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2yn0P8LtEnWDs7hurjNfaK