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Toby Keith

By Jonathan Cunningham

Published on June 25, 2008 at 10:32am

Depending on your demographic, Toby Keith is either a big redneck or the biggest thing to hit country music since Garth Brooks. The reality is, he's both, and most casual music fans don't know what to make of him. He's famously pro-American (if that wasn't already clear, check out "The Taliban Song," "American Soldier," or, oh hell, his whole catalog), and he's a spokesperson for Ford F-150s. To liberals, that practically makes him a persona non grata, but if you open your ears and put your liberal prejudices aside, you'll find out Keith isn't a bad songwriter. He's put out six albums this decade alone, has had lots of success on the Billboard charts, and is the most popular Oklahoman to hit country since Vince Gill. He's worked his ass off to get to where he is now, and whether you love him or hate him, word on the farm is that he puts on one hell of a concert.