10 things you may not know about Toby Keith

Oklahoma's very own Toby Keith isn't exactly an enigma wrapped in a shadow, but there are some things about him you should know. Here are 10 things you may not have known about Toby Keith.

'The Angry American'

One of Toby Keith's biggest hits, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)," didn't come without its controversy.

It only took the guy 20 minutes to write, which is pretty awesome especially when you consider all the accolades — and criticism — it received.

It is a certified platinum single, having sold more than 1.5 million digital copies alone. But that didn't stop The Chicks from slamming the song, claiming it is "ignorant, and it makes country music sound ignorant."

Loss and Pain

Speaking of "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)," the inspiration behind the song is, undoubtedly, the 9/11 terrorist attacks. But it's also inspired by Keith's loss of his father, who died in an auto accident in March 2001.

Easy Money

One of Keith's first gigs as a musician was at a wedding. He made $1,000 that evening, something he referred to as "easy money." And that's when he named his first band the Easy Money Band.

From Easy Money to Lots of Money

In 2017, Keith was No. 83 on Forbes' Celebrity 100 earnings list. In 2013, the magazine also reported Keith had made more than $500 million over his lifetime as an entertainer.

The Hits

Keith has released 18 studio albums, two Christmas albums and four greatest hits albums. So, it's no surprised he has many songs grace the music charts over the years. Sixty-four singles, in fact, have made it on the Billboard country charts, 20 of which reached the No. 1 spot.

Acting, Too

Keith has had some acting gigs, too, which include 2006's "Broken Bridges" and 2008's "Beer for My Horses."

The Korral

Keith doesn't just sit on all his money like some sort of Scrooge McDuck — he's always finding ways to give back to others, especially here in Oklahoma.

The Toby Keith Foundation founded the OK Kids Korral in Oklahoma City, which is described as "a haven for the entire family as a child with cancer receives treatment."

Football Player, Football Fan

Keith is a football junky and a huge University of Oklahoma fan. But did you know he actually played the sport, too?

He was on the Moore High School team where he played defensive end. And, in the early 1980s, he played semiprofessional ball for the Oklahoma City Drillers.

Rasslin'

On a pay-per-view event for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in 2002, Keith was performing "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)" when he was rudely interrupted by professional wrestler Jeff Jarrett. 

But Keith got his revenge when he entered a match Jarrett was in, suplexed the man and eliminated him from the competition.

Bush, Obama and Trump

Keith doesn't shy away from discussing politics, but he's always said, when he's invited by a president to perform, he accepts and does so for the country and military. 

He's played events for presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. He's also played more than 200 shows in Iraq and Afghanistan for the USO.