How NFL Legend Terry Bradshaw Ended Up Singing At A Brooks & Dunn Show In Oklahoma
NFL legend Terry Bradshaw and country music icon Toby Keith found themselves battling cancer at the same time. Sadly, Keith passed away on February 5, 2024, at the age of 62.
Now, Bradshaw takes every chance to honor his dear friend.
Few people realize that on top of being a retired NFL star and current commentator, Bradshaw is also an actor, country singer, and horse breeder. He’s no newbie to performing, and he also has prior experience singing one of Keith’s most meaningful songs, “Don’t Let the Old Man In.”
Keith wrote “Don’t Let the Old Man In” following a conversation with another famous friend of his, Clint Eastwood. Eastwood ended up featuring the track in his 2018 film The Mule.
“Don’t Let the Old Man In” is a song about aging and mortality. But it’s also a song about living your life to the fullest.
Keith delivered his most impactful performance of “Don’t Let the Old Man In” during the People’s Choice Country Awards in September 2023. It ended up being his last televised performance.
Bradshaw has since performed “Don’t Let the Old Man In” in Keith’s honor a few times. After he covered the song in Branson, Missouri, Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn reached out and asked if he’d like to sing at one of their upcoming concerts.
Bradshaw agreed, and made a surprise appearance at the duo’s recent show in Thackerville, Oklahoma.
Terry Bradshaw Reflects On His Friendship With Toby Keith Ahead Of Surprise Tribute Performance
As Bradshaw took to the stage, he spoke about the bond he shared with Keith and how they connected over their respective cancer battles.
“But Toby and I would have a talk, and I’d say, ‘Hey, Bud, how are you doing?’ And he’d say, ‘Man, one day good, one day bad. God’s got a plan for me, I don’t know.’ And I said, ‘Well, hang in there, I’m praying for you.’ And he said, ‘I’m praying for you, buddy.’”
Now that Keith is sadly no longer with us, Bradshaw wants to ensure his legacy lives on, particularly through songs like “Don’t Let the Old Man In.” Bradshaw told the crowd he hoped he could do it justice.
Before the song started, Bradshaw gave Keith one more shout-out, saying,
“Toby, I love you, buddy. I hope I sing this song good for you.“
With Brooks & Dunn behind him onstage, Bradshaw moved into his emotional cover of “Don’t Let the Old Man In.” The crowd was hooked on his every word and rewarded him with a warm round of cheers and applause once he finished the song.
Watch the video below to hear Terry Bradshaw sing Toby Keith’s “Don’t Let the Old Man In.”
Toby Keith was the founder of the Toby Keith Foundation. The foundation helps support the OK Kids Korral, which serves as a home-away-from-home for families with children undergoing cancer treatments. If you’d like to make a donation in Toby’s memory, you can visit the Toby Keith Foundation’s official website here.