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Miranda Lambert was an opener for iconic country singer Toby Keith early in her career. In a new interview, she revealed that it wasn’t always easy touring with the legend. Keep reading to find out why.
Toby Keith’s Death Rocked Country Music
In June 2022, country singer Toby Keith made the startling admission that he’d been diagnosed with cancer. He had been quietly battling the disease since the fall of 2021. The “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” singer made a triumphant appearance at the 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards to accept the Country Icon Award. He performed an emotional rendition of “Don’t Let the Old Man In.”
No one knew that would be his last public performance. He passed away in February 2024 after a hard-fought battle with stomach cancer. The singer was only 62.
A Young Miranda Lambert Toured With Him
Miranda Lambert has been a mainstream country star for two decades. Before she gained national stardom, she was a contestant on Nashville Star. In 2007, the up-and-coming singer landed a coveted spot opening for Toby Keith on his summer/fall tour.
She made an appearance on the This Past Weekend podcast this week and opened up about the life-changing experience. She said that it was her third or fourth time opening for a major country tour. Miranda Lambert said that she “learned a lot” from Toby Keith.
One thing she learned was the fans were there to see Toby Keith and weren’t afraid to let her know it. “His fans taught me a lot, too, because they were really about Toby only,” Lambert said.
She added, “You had to work to get them to care…His outlaw, kind of, ‘I am who I am’ mentality, they kind of adopted that. It made me work for it, in a good way.”
While she enjoyed the experience, she admitted that the tour was difficult as a young artist.
She Admits It Wasn’t Easy
Toby Keith didn’t coddle Miranda Lambert when she joined his tour as the opening act. She said he basically threw her to the wolves, but it was for her own good.
She said, “But I guess I needed that, because I was a baby and didn’t know what was going on yet. I was learning all the ropes of everything.”
Miranda Lambert had nothing but kind things to say about the late singer.
“He was himself. Know what I mean? He was, like, authentically himself. Kind of did everything his own way. An outlaw in his own way.”
Miranda Lambert now headlines her own sold-out tours.