Honoring a legend. February 5 marked two years since the death of Toby Keith, who passed away in 2024 following a two year battle with stomach cancer. And on the anniversary of the Big Dog Daddy’s death, Eric Church took time during his own show to pay tribute to the country music legend who had such a big impact on his own career. Of course everybody knows by now the story of Church getting kicked off the Rascal Flatts Me & My Gang Tour back in 2006. And after finding himself with the reputation for not following the rules, he had a hard time getting on another major country tour – until Toby Keith called him. Believe it or not, up through 2010, Church was still performing shows at bars like Joe’s On Weed in Chicago and Cain’s Ballroom in Oklahoma. Legendary music venues, no doubt, but far from the arenas that the superstar is packing today. But in 2011, Church got the call from Toby to join his Locked and Loaded tour, an opportunity that Church credits for the career that he has today. Speaking during the 2024 Toby Keith: American Icon tribute concert in Nashville, Church recalled getting the call from Toby at a time when few in country music were willing to give him a chance: “About 15 years ago, I was starting my career, and we were having a hard time getting anybody in country music to let us come play shows with ’em. And Toby Keith was the guy that called and said ‘Hey, why don’t you come play shows with me?’ And there is no way I’m standing here today if it wasn’t for Toby Keith.” Of course Toby and Eric knew each other long before then, having met in a hilarious way at a bar in Nashville when Eric was first getting his start. “My first time I met Toby, we both frequented a bar in Printer’s Alley in Nashville called The Fiddle and Steel Guitar Bar. And I remember walking in my first time and apparently some of the patrons had been harassing a bartender behind the bar and as I walked in, Toby had taken the guy harassing the patrons and had drug him by his shirt collar all the way down the bar. And as I walked in the door, the guy dropped in front of me, and I look up and there’s Toby Keith, and I kinda stuck out my hand and said, ‘Hi.’ Toby was always a guy that did things his own way, and I think of that, I think of that fondly now when I think of him. We got to be friends later and toured with him, but that’s how I met him. He laid a guy out at my feet at the Fiddle and Steel.” Well fast forward to last week, and Church was in Omaha, Nebraska for a stop at CHI Health Arena on his Free the Machine Tour, and towards the end of the show he took a minute to acknowledge the anniversary of Toby’s death: “Two years ago, I lost one of my really good friends and mentors in this business.” Church then broke out his own cover of “Don’t Let the Old Man In,” the song that Toby recorded for the Clint Eastwood film The Mule that would become his final single after it was re-released in 2023. It’s a poignant song made all the more meaningful after Toby’s cancer battle, and one that Church had performed during Toby’s posthumous induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. But last week in a packed arena in Omaha, you could have heard a pin drop as the Chief paid tribute to Toby with the emotional song: “Many moons I have lived My body’s weathered and worn Ask yourself how would you be If you didn’t know the day you were born Try to love on your wife And stay close to your friends Toast each sundown with wine Don’t let the old man in” @carlakolpin Stunning! Eric Church performed Don’t Let The Old Man In on the anniversary of Toby’s passing. Goosies!! #ericchurch #tobykeith #dontlettheoldmanin #chief @Notorious CUB fan ♬ original sound – carlak Incredible tribute. Rest in peace, Big Dog Daddy. We love you.The post Watch: Eric Church Paid Tribute To Toby Keith With “Don’t Let The Old Man In” On The 2-Year Anniversary Of His Death first appeared on Whiskey Riff.