Toby Keith's 3 Children Attend 2024 CMT Awards Ahead of Tribute Performance Honoring Their Late Father

Shelley Covel Rowland, Krystal Keith and Stelen Keith Covel stepped out to the awards show after the "As Good as I Once Was" singer died at age 62 in February

Toby Keith's children are honoring his memory at the 2024 CMT Awards.

On Sunday, April 7, the late 13-time CMT Award winner's three children — Shelley Covel Rowland, Krystal Keith and Stelen Keith Covel — walked the red carpet ahead of the ceremony honoring the brightest stars in country music.

Later in the evening, Toby, who died of stomach cancer on Feb. 5 at age 62, will be honored with a tribute performance featuring Brooks & Dunn, Lainey Wilson and Sammy Hagar as well as members of Toby's beloved band, plus Lukas Nelson and former MLB star Roger Clemens.

In a red carpet interview with CMT, Stelen, 27, spoke about feeling as though his father would be honored to see so many of his friends come together in celebration of his life and career.

"I think he'd be really excited," Stelen said of the tribute performance. "He's made some amazing music throughout his career, and it's amazing we get to see that come to fruition, and see his due given."

Related: Brooks & Dunn, Lainey Wilson and More to Perform in Tribute to Late Toby Keith at 2024 CMT Awards

Krystal, 38, added that it's gratifying to see people appreciate the full breadth of her father's career.

"He was a genius in music, and people are starting to see that now," said Krystal. "I think people thought he was just an artist, but they're learning he was so much more than that," Krystal said.

Toby's death came nearly three years after he was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2021, and the loss prompted an outpouring of love from the country music community and his children alike.

Check out all of PEOPLE's full CMT Awards coverage here.

Following his death, Krystal paid tribute to her dad with a carousel of photos on Instagram. "I am shattered," she wrote at the time. "As great as he was in his career, he was so much greater as a dad and a husband and a Pop Pop. He was my hero."

The mom of two went on to share how grateful she was for the time she had with her father, continuing, "I am so lucky to have had him and so grateful he got to walk me down the aisle and meet my babies. That I have years of memories traveling the world as a family. I am blessed that I got to spend years traveling on the road and singing on stage with him. That I have mountains of video footage and endless tracks of music to watch him on and hear his voice with."

Related: Toby Keith Prided Himself on Loving Family Environment Out of the Spotlight: 'I Have Great Kids'

Stelen shared his own tribute on Instagram at the time and called his father "my guiding star."

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"You are the strongest man I have ever known. A fighter. A true titan of your industry. My guiding star. My coach. My hero," he wrote alongside a throwback photo of himself with his dad.

The 2024 CMT Music Awards are airing live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, on CBS and Paramount+.

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