I like the woman who played the EMT in his "I'm Not As Good As I Once Was" video.

Who is as good as they once were?

I'll raise my hand to that one...I love Toby. I agree with Country Weekly, he's a great musician and a gifted writer.

I don't know if Trace Atkins has any tie to Bako, but I love him too.

Toby's a good Democrat and can carry a tune.  He's in the club.

No.

Anyone who writes lyrics like, "Cause we'll put a boot in your ass - It's the American way", is kinda....meh.

Hey man, I'm just sayin'.....Unless you're into a good BOOTIN'! :-P

There does seem to be a bit of Merle Haggard influence in some of the writing and also in the performance of his music. Ya gotta love it when he sings "We'd still be together but she left me, I got mad about it but it never did upset me!"

I hear that his live performance gets a bit raunchy, but what the heck he's Toby Keith.

 Toby's a good Democrat and can carry a tune.  He's in the club.

If he's a Democrat, (and I've heard some folks say he is and others who say he's Republican), he's the best kind of Democrat, the kind you would swear was a Republican :)

Anyone who writes lyrics like, "Cause we'll put a boot in your ass - It's the American way", is kinda....meh.

I don't think he was feeling much love for bin Laden at the time if that's what you're suggesting :)  I don't think what he had in mind was a prostate exam either.  I think we can be pretty safe in assuming the reference was figurative, and not literal.  It wasn't one of his best songs though---a bit on the jingoistic side, and a little too macho, even for me.   

Saw him in Paso Robles on Thursday.  Good show, plenty of patriotic pyrotechnics and a great ending comment.  Something like, ' if someone makes fun of you being patriotic F*&k   em".   Not my first choice for a concert but it was a Birthday present for my daughter.  It was worth it.  He does have that Bakersfield attitude and fits in nicely.

I like his music.  It's not that bad.  And, despite not agreeing with him politically, I think he should be recognized for being willing to stand up and say what he believes in.  Given, due to his main consumer demo, his position is pretty safe...but, still.  He has convictions.  I respect that.  And, I'm a sucker for a deep, manly voice.  He and Trace Atkins can get my butter melting by saying 'Hello". ;)

I've been a Toby Keith fan since I was in Iraq. I had an NCO that would play his music on a continuous loop and it grew on me. I also respect him for giving a concert at a nearby base from my location after the chow hall had been blown up by insurgents that killed several soldiers. It was good to have a piece of home under such wierd circumstances.

I watched an hour long interview with Toby on Glenn Beck last night and he openly admitted that he is a Democrat.  When Glenn asked him if he knew who he was going to vote for he got thoughtful, hesitated a minute and answered "no."  When asked if he would go into politcs he immediately answered "no" but then qualified it by saying he might get into state politcs but had no use for Washington.

 He said in the beginning he was opposed to going into Iraq but as time went on and he studied it, he came to understand it.  He also said (while laughing) that anyone who listened to a songwrighter or any other celebrity when it came to politics was misguided.  (paraphrased.)

He's my kind of American.  Patriotic, loyal, true to his beliefs, and unswayed by all the hoopla of politics. 

Link to part of the Toby Keith conversation.

http://www.glennbeck.com/co...

Love the comments!  Love the links! Toby Keith rocks!

"No boots in the ass, please."

How about a boot in your ass matt........................................

PM - "butter melting..." LOL!  I also will raise my hand, glass, ...whatever, ...I  like Toby too! His bus songs are hilarious. sometimes hear them on the Bob and Tom show. Personal favorite? "I'll Never Smoke Weed With Willie Again". Good voice. Yep, color me a fan...

Now, gube, was that comment really necessary?  Toby Keith was trying to express his disgust for bin Laden, but I agree that the line in the song was rather lame.  Nevertheless, I don't think it's fair to write off Toby Keith over one line in one song. 

Neil Young wrote and recorded a song in the heat of the moment after 9/11 that I'm sure he regreted writing.  It had the same title as one of mine, though my was written and got on the radio before his did.  (For those trivia buffs among you, name that tune). 

Many of his other songs are great.  He's the wittiest country artist of his time, and one of the most prolific.  His songs can make you laugh, they can make you cry, and they can make you want to do other things with cowboy boots than slip your feet into them :)

I agree that Toby Keith merits the Bakersfield Sound Hall of Fame, but when I read your question of who "... do you feel should be added to Bakersfield sound's extended family due to the influence the Bakersfield sound has had on their music?,  My first thought was Neil Young, and then as I read the comments, I happened on to your suggestion that "Neil Young wrote and recorded a song in the heat of the moment after 9/11 that I'm sure he regretted writing. "

Young, gave a very insightful interview to Charlie Rose in which he touched not only on how he is inspired, but also, touching on the subject of the disc "Living with War," (not just a song, such as Let's Impeach the President.) of which you suggest he now regrets.

From the Charlie Rose interview, and this story about the film which celebrates the disc,  I do not sense that he regrets having written and toured the lp, as much as the joy that he was able to express the anger; and his  desire to move on.  In the link I provided Neil say's that "I try not to look back, because I'm looking forward. I'm worried about where I'll be next week, there are a lot of things to do and need to be done. So I don't look back."

I was beginning to regret the song I wrote in response to the title track of Neil's CD, the one that you mentioned, until this critic named it the #8 best record of 2006:

http://www.morethings.com/m...

As compiled by someone who believes "Springsteen was little more than a corporate rock whore"  That list?  You should be proud.

Judging by your response, you and Al Barger must have a difference of opinion on which

Bruce is "The Boss" :)