Toby Keith's Texas connections: Dallas bar, Willie Nelson collab, The Chicks feud

Country music singer-songwriter Toby Keith has died following a battle with stomach cancer. His memory will continue living on throughout the United States.

Country music legend Toby Keith passed away on Monday night at the age of 62 after a long battle with stomach cancer. The "Should've Been a Cowboy" singer died peacefully, surrounded by his family. The Oklahoma native's memory will live on throughout the United States, including in Texas.

Toby Keith's impact on Texas is evident in several ways. For instance, after his 2003 hit "I Love This Bar" held the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, a chain of restaurants called "Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill" was opened, with one location in Dallas, Texas. The restaurant offered southern-style food and live music and even offered a free "American Soldier Burger" to military members with proof of government ID. However, most of these locations closed in 2015 due to lawsuits and financial issues.

In 2003, Keith collaborated with Willie Nelson, another iconic country music singer from Texas, to release the hit song "Beer for My Horses." The song spent six weeks at the top of Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.

Keith's 2002 song "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)" sparked controversy, particularly with The Chicks, formerly known as The Dixie Chicks, from Dallas, Texas. The lead singer, Natalie Maines, criticized Keith's song and his support of the Iraq War and President George W. Bush, leading to a public feud between the two artists. However, Keith ended the feud after a personal tragedy in his band, showing that some things are more important than celebrity feuds.

Toby Keith's legacy will continue to live on in the hearts of country music fans, including those in Texas, as his contributions to the genre and his impact on the state will always be remembered.

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