Toby Keith's Family Reveals Unfiltered Reaction to Jason Aldean's ACM Awards Tribute to Late Star

WESTWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 10: Toby Keith and Tricia Lucus attend the Warner Bros. Pictures world premiere of "The Mule" held at Regency Village Theatre on December 10, 2018 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic)

Toby Keith's family is speaking out in the wake of Jason Aldean's tribute to the late country superstar at the 2024 ACM Awards on Thursday, May 16.

The choice for the "Dirt Road Anthem" singer drew criticism when his involvement in the program was first announced, with fans voicing concern due to his controversial history—including when wife Brittany Aldean issued controversial comments about transgender youth in August 2022 and when he came under fire for his song "Try That in A Small Town," which critics have accused of having racist undertones in the lyrics and music video scenes, in July 2023—but most viewers agreed that "he did Toby Keith justice in that performance" as he sang Keith's first-ever hit single, "Should've Been a Cowboy."

But now, Keith's family is sharing their unfiltered opinion of the cover—and they're in agreement.

“The Covel family would like to thank Jason Aldean for the wonderfully touching performance at the ACM Awards tonight,” they wrote in a statement posted to the late country crooner’s official Twitter account. “It was the perfect tribute to Toby Keith.”

Keith's wife Tricia was in attendance, along with their their three children, Shelley, Krystal and Stelen. It marked her first time attending a tribute to her late husband, to whom she was married for nearly 40 years, in person, according to Taste of Country, and the family members were spotted with visible tears by the time it was over.

Aldean and Keith had become good friends since the younger artist joined the industry, before his untimely death earlier this year as a result of stomach cancer.

Next: Fans Say Jason Aldean’s CMT Music Awards Performance Is ‘Ironic’ Months After Banned Music Video