Toby Keith doesn’t let it rain on his Red Rock Resort parade

Toby Keith doesn’t let it rain on his Red Rock Resort parade

Some things in life are worth the wait. Add Toby Keith to that list. After a more than two-hour delay due to lightning and rain Saturday night, the country superstar hit the Red Rock Resort Amphitheater stage to a resounding roar from concertgoers at his “Live in Overdrive Tour” stop.
It was the same roar that erupted when it was announced shortly after 10 p.m. over the intercom system inside Red Rock Resort that the concert was still a go. (Incidentally, the Bloc Party and Santigold show at Boulevard Pool at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas also was delayed, while the All-American Rejects and Eve 6 continued as planned, except that fans weren’t allowed in the pool at Mandalay Bay Beach.)
The rain cooled the outside temperature in Summerlin, and Keith fans were ready to party with their red Solo cups and large, plastic white Red Rock Resort sippy cups filled with drinks and flashing-light “ice cubes” by tour sponsor Belvedere vodka and its attractive and friendly staff. Despite the delay, the crowd was more than 95 percent retained post-evacuation, and the mix of cowboys, cowgirls, beach boys and clubgoers was surprisingly free of public intoxication (at least in this journalist’s immediate area).
The evening was everything one would expect from a concert by Keith, whose Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill is at Harrah’s: an energetic, yet chill party atmosphere; a lot of No. 1 hits (he’s had 22 of them, so far); an, ahem, sprinkling of F-bombs (despite there being children in the audience); and a big, heaping and unapologetic dose of patriotism from the conservative Democrat turned Independent. However, not many boots, chaps and cowboy hats, surprisingly.
The set list included “American Life,” “Beers Ago,” “I Wanna Talk About Me,” “Whiskey Girl” (with opening act Brantley Gilbert), “Who’s Your Daddy?” “Red Solo Cup,” “As Good As I Once Was,” “I Love This Bar,” “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “How Do You Like Me Now?!” and “A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action.” Keith slowed it down with a ballad for his encore, pulled a young man onstage who held up an American flag sign that included the words “Coast Guard Sandoval” and ended the night with “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (the Angry American).”
Two hilarious songs that will never be recorded were two highlights of the evening: “Smoking Weed With Willie Nelson” and “Get Out of Your Clothes, or Get Out of My Car.” The often-controversial and outspoken Keith kept his political views in check for the night, instead giving fans what they needed -- a big party after waiting more than two hours, and he delivered. Keith thanked firefighters and the military (and their families) for their service and sacrifice and toasted to “whiskey for my men and beer for my horses.”
The lightning and rain put the kibosh on Gilbert, but Keith graciously invited his opener onstage for a few songs, and the audience happily received the singer, who showed off his guns in a black tank top. One brilliant stage prop: Keith’s microphone stand included a holder for his red Solo cup. Filler up!

Krystal Keith Gives Props to Dad Toby for Normal Childhood

Krystal Keith Gives Props to Dad Toby for Normal Childhood

TKO Artist Management Toby Keith's daughter Krystal may have grown up connected to the celebrity world with a rich and famous dad, but she says things around the Keith house in Oklahoma were actually as normal as could be. In fact, Krystal says most of the time her dad was so diligent about making time for his kids that they never even knew when he was away on tour.

"My dad made sure that we didn't notice when he was gone," Krystal tells California country radio station K-FROG. "He would always make time for us and was always there when we needed him. We never missed out on "Tickle Time" with him. That was our special thing. I can't recall a time when he wasn't there."

Though her dad racked up plenty of chart-topping hits and awards during the years she was growing up, Krystal says she didn't really get any flack from fellow students about her famous father being on the radio. "Most of the kids did not know that my father was Toby Keith, and even if they did, they would not make such a big deal out of it because going to school in Oklahoma was not like going to school in Nashville where everyone wants to meet someone famous."

Krystal is following in Dad's footsteps and has been busy working on her upcoming debut album, which will come out on Toby's Show Dog-Universal record label. The project will be produced by Toby and Mark Wright, and it won't be the first time the two have worked together professionally. The brunette beauty actually teamed up with her father in 2004 to cut a remake of the tune "Mockingbird" for Toby's "Greatest Hits 2" CD. It charted in the Top 30 on the Billboard country songs chart.

Krystal describes her music as country infused with blues, and says she's very ladylike but with some rough edges. Her debut CD will reportedly showcase some of that unflinching, sometimes unfiltered honesty that she likely inherited from her dad. And since Toby keeps expanding his restaurant/nightclub empire, his daughter will likely have some built-in places to get booked as she begins to launch her career. In fact, Krystal performed at the recent opening of Toby's I Love This Bar & Grill in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., last Friday to a packed house. 

Toby Keith Not Mean Guy Who Won't Help Kids, Says Manager

Toby Keith Not Mean Guy Who Won't Help Kids, Says Manager

Toby Keith is being accused of refusing to sign a guitar to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  His road manager is calling the accusation "just stupid."  The story first came out last week that Toby wouldn't sign the guitar backstage at a concert in Nebraska after it was auctioned off as part of a fundraiser. Supposedly, Toby's management knew about the auction, but when the guitar was presented to the star he refused to autograph it. His road manager said they had no such request.  "For them to think that Toby would disregard a great charity like St. Jude when he has his own foundation that supports and has the same goals is just stupid."
Jason Aldean is asking those fans enjoying his latest single "Take a Little Ride," to send in pictures of themselves jamming to his new song. Whether it's in a car, on a bike or on a plane, Jason wants to see your photos.  Just email them as an attachment to jasonaldean@contests.sparkart.com. Among those who send in their photos, one winner will get an Ultimate Jason Aldean Prize Pack including Aldean dog tags, leather travel wallet, bottle opener, camo hat and a t-shirt.  Two runners up will get the Jason Aldean camo hat and a t-shirt as well. Photos are being accepted through September 3.
One million.  That is how many tickets the ‘Brothers of the Sun’ Tour, with Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw, has officially sold. The tour is the highest-grossing of 2012 so far.  “I’m so grateful to all of the fans that have made this tour such an amazing success and a nonstop party night after night,” Chesney said. “Being out on the road with Tim has been incredible and we still have a lot of songs left to sing this summer.”

Garth Brooks has been added to the line-up for a televsion special saluting teachers.  "Teachers Rock" will air on CBS next Friday, August 17th.  Carrie Underwood and (ironically) Dierks Bentley are the other country stars performing to honor America’s teachers.  Hmmm....Dierks will be in Wichita at Hartman Arena that night, so we know the special was taped in advance.  Teachers Rock airs Friday, August 17 at 7 central on CBS.

The third-season premiere of "The Voice" is only a few weeks away, and the show is going to be making some changes this time. While the four coaches -- including Blake Shelton, will each return to the famous red swivel seats, they will have fewer people to keep track of.  The producers believe there were too many contestants and it was hard to fall in love with any of them. That may be why the winners of the first two seasons have not transformed their appearance on the show into success off the show, unlike the show's talent-search competitor, "American Idol." Season three of "The Voice" premieres Monday, Sept. 10, at 8:00 PM ET on NBC.