Toby Keith Honored by Oklahoma State Legislature With Turnpike Naming

OKLAHOMA CITY — On March 3, the family of superstar Toby Keith attended the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s monthly meeting to be officially recognized for the State Legislature’s recent adoption of a resolution to name a new turnpike the Toby Keith Expressway.

Last month, Rep. Jason Blair, R-Moore, and Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, presented House Concurrent Resolution 1019 supporting the naming of the turnpike. The resolution honors Keith’s life, patriotism and enduring contributions to Oklahoma and the nation. The measure was heard and adopted by both houses of the Oklahoma State Legislature, and was met with a standing ovation on the Senate floor.

The Toby Keith Expressway will be a 28-mile east-west connector turnpike from Interstate 44 east to Interstate 35 near Indian Hills Road, continuing east and north to Interstate 40 at the Kickapoo Turnpike

In a press release from the House Communications & Public Affairs Office, Blair said, "Toby Keith was more than a country music star. He was a proud Oklahoman who never forgot where he came from. Naming this turnpike in his honor is a fitting way to recognize a man who represented our state with ultimate patriotism and generosity. Toby Keith’s legacy goes far beyond music. He spent years supporting our troops and helping families and children in some of the toughest moments imaginable. This turnpike designation is just a small way to ensure his impact will be remembered by generations to come."

Standrigde added, "Over the course of his legendary career, Toby Keith never forgot where he came from or what he stood for. His Oklahoma roots shaped him, and his love of America defined him. He was a country music superstar and a true patriot. I can think of no better way to honor his memory than by naming this future stretch of Norman turnpike in his honor, creating a lasting tribute to the legacy he leaves behind.

Born in Clinton, Okla. and raised in Moore, Keith rose to national prominence with a career that included 42 top 10 hits – including "Should’ve Been a Cowboy," "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)" and "American Soldier" – 33 No. 1s, more than 44+ million albums sold, 100+ million BMI performances, more than 10+ billion streams, and largely stood on the strength of his own songwriting and producing, and his great, recognizable voice.

In addition to the many Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year awards, he was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame and bestowed an honorary degree from the University of Oklahoma shortly before his passing in February 2024. Among his many accomplishments, the New York based all-genre Songwriters Hall of Fame (2015), the National Medal of Arts (2021), the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (2021), and BMI Icon (2022) were his most treasured.

Keith was known for his unwavering support of the U.S. military. He performed more than 300 shows on USO tours in combat zones, offering encouragement to American service members stationed overseas.

Keith also made a lasting impact through his charitable work. After a devastating tornado struck his hometown of Moore in 2013, Keith organized the OK Twister Relief Concert to support families who lost their homes and faced significant hardship in the storm’s aftermath.

He also created the Toby Keith Foundationn, which has helped children with cancer since 2006, focusing on providing no-cost housing for families during treatment. In 2014, the foundation opened OK Kids Korral, a cost-free home for pediatric cancer patients receiving care at The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center, the Stephenson Cancer Center and other nearby facilities.