Toby Keith

Solo Artist

Photo: SPC Laura M. Bigenho, USA · Public domain
Active 1993-2024
Died February 5, 2024
Origin Clinton, Oklahoma
Albums 21
Tracks 231
Most frequent collaborator James Stroud · 71 tracks
Genres CountryCountry Rock
Songwriter
80%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 185 of 231 tracks

Did Toby Keith write his own songs?

Almost always. He is credited on 185 of his 231 studio tracks and is the only writer on 42 of them. Eight of his twenty-one albums are written entirely by him and his co-writers with nobody from outside.

By the Numbers

21
Studio Albums
231
Tracks Credited
80%
Self-Written
31
Years Active
114
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 185 / 231 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 231 tracks: how many Toby Keith wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Toby Keith has a writing credit80%
18%
62%
20%
Sole author42tracks18%
Co-written143tracks62%
Outside writers46tracks20%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Toby Keith's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 231 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)80%
Composer (music)80%
Producer86%
Performer100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Toby Keith's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 80%
80%
70%
31%
90%
73%
75%
77%
100%
90%
100%
100%
82%
0%
100%
92%
100%
91%
100%
90%
90%
50%
1993Toby Keith
1994Boomtown
1995Christmas to Christmas
1996Blue Moon
1997Dream Walkin'
1999How Do You Like Me Now?!
2001Pull My Chain
2002Unleashed
2003Shock'n Y'all
2005Honkytonk University
2006White Trash with Money
2007Big Dog Daddy
2007A Classic Christmas
2008That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy
2009American Ride
2010Bullets in the Gun
2011Clancy's Tavern
2012Hope on the Rocks
2013Drinks After Work
201535 MPH Town
2021Peso in My Pocket
Early · 70% written
Mid · 84% written
Late · 88% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

68%
1990s
Toby Keith, Boomtown +4 more
84%
2000s
Pull My Chain, Unleashed +7 more
94%
2010s
Bullets in the Gun, Clancy's Tavern +3 more
50%
2020s
Peso in My Pocket

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Toby Keith sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Toby Keith
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Tim McGraw2%
George Strait11%
Kenny Chesney20%
Billy Ray Cyrus47%
Florida Georgia Line63%
Sheryl Crow88%
Zac Brown Band96%
80%Toby Keith
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Should've Been a Cowboy
Toby Keith
Written by Toby Keith, Toby Keith Covel
Wrote it
I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying
Dream Walkin'
Written by Sting
Outside writers
How Do You Like Me Now?!
How Do You Like Me Now?!
Written by Toby Keith, Chuck Cannon, Toby Keith Covel
Co-wrote
You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This
How Do You Like Me Now?!
Written by Toby Keith, Toby Keith Covel
Wrote it
Country Comes to Town
How Do You Like Me Now?!
Written by Toby Keith, Toby Keith Covel
Wrote it
My List
Pull My Chain
Written by Tim James, Rand Bishop
Outside writers
I'm Just Talkin' About Tonight
Pull My Chain
Written by Toby Keith, Scotty Emerick, Toby Keith Covel
Co-wrote
I Wanna Talk About Me
Pull My Chain
Written by Bobby Braddock
Outside writers
Who's Your Daddy?
Unleashed
Written by Toby Keith, Toby Keith Covel
Wrote it
Beer for My Horses
Unleashed
Written by Toby Keith, Scotty Emerick, Toby Keith Covel
Co-wrote
Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)
Unleashed
Written by Toby Keith, Toby Keith Covel
Wrote it
Rock You Baby
Unleashed
Written by Toby Keith, Scotty Emerick, Toby Keith Covel
Co-wrote
I Love This Bar
Shock'n Y'all
Written by Toby Keith, Scotty Emerick, Toby Keith Covel
Co-wrote
American Soldier
Shock'n Y'all
Written by Toby Keith, Chuck Cannon, Toby Keith Covel
Co-wrote
Whiskey Girl
Shock'n Y'all
Written by Toby Keith, Scotty Emerick, Toby Keith Covel
Co-wrote
As Good as I Once Was
Honkytonk University
Written by Toby Keith, Scotty Emerick, Toby Keith Covel
Co-wrote
Big Blue Note
Honkytonk University
Written by Toby Keith, Scotty Emerick, Toby Keith Covel
Co-wrote
Honkytonk U
Honkytonk University
Written by Toby Keith, Toby Keith Covel
Wrote it
Get Drunk and Be Somebody
White Trash with Money
Written by Toby Keith, Scotty Emerick, Toby Keith Covel
Co-wrote
A Little Too Late
White Trash with Money
Written by Toby Keith, Scotty Emerick, Dean Dillon, Toby Keith Covel
Co-wrote
Crash Here Tonight
White Trash with Money
Written by Toby Keith, Toby Keith Covel
Wrote it
Love Me If You Can
Big Dog Daddy
Written by Chris Wallin, Craig Wiseman
Outside writers
High Maintenance Woman
Big Dog Daddy
Written by Toby Keith, Tim Wilson, Danny Simpson, Toby Keith Covel
Co-wrote
Get My Drink On
Big Dog Daddy
Written by Toby Keith, Scotty Emerick, Dean Dillon, Toby Keith Covel
Co-wrote
God Love Her
That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy
Written by Toby Keith, Vicky McGehee, Toby Keith Covel
Co-wrote
She Never Cried in Front of Me
That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy
Written by Toby Keith, Bobby Pinson, Toby Keith Covel
Co-wrote
Lost You Anyway
That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy
Written by Toby Keith, Bobby Pinson, Toby Keith Covel
Co-wrote
American Ride
American Ride
Written by Dave Pahanish, Joe West
Outside writers
Cryin' for Me (Wayman's Song)
American Ride
Written by Toby Keith, Toby Keith Covel
Wrote it
Somewhere Else
Bullets in the Gun
Written by Toby Keith, Bobby Pinson, Toby Keith Covel
Co-wrote
Bullets in the Gun
Bullets in the Gun
Written by Toby Keith, Rivers Rutherford, Toby Keith Covel
Co-wrote
Trailerhood
Bullets in the Gun
Written by Toby Keith, Toby Keith Covel
Wrote it
Red Solo Cup
Clancy's Tavern
Written by Brett Beavers, Jim Beavers, Brad Warren, Brett Warren
Outside writers
Made in America
Clancy's Tavern
Written by Toby Keith, Bobby Pinson, Scott Reeves, Toby Keith Covel
Co-wrote
Beers Ago
Clancy's Tavern
Written by Toby Keith, Bobby Pinson, Toby Keith Covel
Co-wrote

Discography 21 albums

All twenty-one albums the discography lists as studio albums, including the two Christmas records. The compilations, the live releases and the box sets sit outside this catalogue.

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Toby Keith231 tracks
JS71James Stroud, 71 tracks 50Scotty Emerick, 50 tracks BP47Bobby Pinson, 47 tracks NL43Nelson Larkin, 43 tracks HS33Harold Shedd, 33 tracks CC21Chuck Cannon, 21 tracks LW13Lari White, 13 tracks DD10Dean Dillon, 10 tracks RS10Randy Scruggs, 10 tracks MM10Mac McAnally, 10 tracks KG10Kenny Greenberg, 10 tracks RR7Rivers Rutherford, 7 tracks WP5Wayne Perry, 5 tracks RR5Ron Reynolds, 5 tracks JF4Jim Femino, 4 tracks BD3Bob DiPiero, 3 tracks ER3Eddy Raven, 3 tracks CG2Carl Goff Jr., 2 tracks CW2Craig Wiseman, 2 tracks VM2Vicky McGehee, 2 tracks BW2Brad Warren, 2 tracks BW2Brett Warren, 2 tracks KH1Keith Hinton & Jimmy Alan Stewart, 1 track NC1Nathan Crow, 1 track DW1David Wills, 1 track TH1Tony Haselden, 1 track TM1Tim Menzies, 1 track TM1Tim Mensy, 1 track JM1Johnny McCollum, 1 track PR1Pal Rakes, 1 track WH1Weston Harvey, 1 track SL1Scott Lynch, 1 track LA1Lewis Anderson, 1 track SH1Sam Hogin, 1 track JM1Jim McBride, 1 track RH1Ron Hallard, 1 track AR1Alan Rhody, 1 track VR1Vernon Rust, 1 track KU1Keith Urban, 1 track RR1Ronnie Rogers, 1 track WG1William Golay, 1 track RM1Roger Miller, 1 track MJ1Mark Jones, 1 track MC1Michael Crossno, 1 track AS1Allen Shamblin, 1 track ES1Eric Silver, 1 track PT1Paul Thorn, 1 track BM1Billy Maddox, 1 track S1Sting, 1 track on The Police's page MD1Mark D. Sanders, 1 track SS1Steve Seskin, 1 track BH1Byron Hill, 1 track JJ1Jack Jones, 1 track FM1Frank Mickey Jones Jr., 1 track JB1J. B. Rudd, 1 track JS1Jerry Salley, 1 track BB1Bobby Braddock, 1 track DL1Dave Loggins, 1 track TJ1Tim James, 1 track RB1Rand Bishop, 1 track BT1Bernie Taupin, 1 track on Elton John's page WN1Willie Nelson, 1 track CL1Chris LeDoux, 1 track PM1Phil Madeira, 1 track RD1Ronnie Dunn, 1 track MH1Merle Haggard, 1 track TW1Tim Wilson, 1 track DS1Danny Simpson, 1 track CW1Chris Wallin, 1 track FE1Fred Eaglesmith, 1 track HM1Hugh Martin, 1 track RB1Ralph Blane, 1 track SC1Sammy Cahn, 1 track JS1Jule Styne, 1 track FB1Felix Bernard, 1 track RB1Richard Bernhard Smith, 1 track RB1Richard B. Smith, 1 track JL1Jay Livingston, 1 track RE1Ray Evans, 1 track WK1Walter Kent, 1 track KG1Kim Gannon, 1 track BR1Buck Ram, 1 track JM1Johnny Marks, 1 track MT1Mel Tormé, 1 track RW1Robert Wells, 1 track BW1Bob Wells, 1 track IB1Irving Berlin, 1 track WE1Walter E. Rollins, 1 track SN1Steve Nelson, 1 track CB1Charles Brown, 1 track GR1Gene Redd, 1 track DP1Dave Pahanish, 1 track JW1Joe West, 1 track JW1John Waples, 1 track SR1Scott Reeves, 1 track BB1Brett Beavers, 1 track JB1Jim Beavers, 1 track TC1Trailer Choir, 1 track MF1Marc Fortney, 1 track BD1Barry Dean, 1 track NH1Natalie Hemby, 1 track LL1Luke Laird, 1 track BC1Brandy Clark, 1 track SM1Shane McAnally, 1 track MH1Mike Hosty, 1 track RH1Ryan Hurd, 1 track MM1Maren Morris, 1 track BT1Brett Tyler, 1 track KR1Kevin R. Moore, 1 track JL1John Lewis Parker, 1 track JJ1Jessie Jo Dillon, 1 track SH1Sammy Hagar, 1 track on Van Halen's page JM1John Mellencamp, 1 track JP1John Prine, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. JS James Stroud · BP Bobby Pinson · NL Nelson Larkin · HS Harold Shedd · CC Chuck Cannon

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

He is credited on 185 of his 231 studio tracks, four out of five, and on 42 of them alone. Scotty Emerick co-wrote 50 and Bobby Pinson 44, but the pattern is that he is always there: on eight of his twenty-one albums he wrote every single track. Very few country singers of his size wrote this much of their own catalogue.

Quick Facts

  • Self-written185 of his 231 studio tracks
  • Written alone42 tracks carry his name and no other
  • Main partnerScotty Emerick co-wrote 50 tracks
  • Biggest albumsUnleashed and Shock'n Y'all are both 4x platinum
  • His own labelEvery album from 2006 came out on Show Dog
  • Twenty-one albums1993 to 2021, two of them Christmas records

Creative Fingerprint

A country singer who wrote four songs in five, and forty-two of them on his own.

The Story

Toby Keith spent years playing Oklahoma bars and working the oilfields before "Should've Been a Cowboy" made him a country star in 1993. Twenty-one studio albums followed, most of them on his own label after 2006. He died in February 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions Toby Keith

Did Toby Keith write his own songs?
Almost always. He is credited on 185 of his 231 studio tracks and is the only writer on 42 of them. Eight of his twenty-one albums are written entirely by him and his co-writers with nobody from outside.
Who wrote "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue"?
Toby Keith alone, after his father's death and the September 11 attacks.
Who wrote "Red Solo Cup"?
Brett and Brad Warren with Jim and Beot Beavers. It is one of the few hits of his he had no hand in.
How many albums did he release?
Twenty-one that the discography counts as studio albums, from Toby Keith in 1993 to Peso in My Pocket in 2021.
Who did he write with?
Scotty Emerick on 50 tracks, Bobby Pinson on 44, Chuck Cannon on 21 and Dean Dillon on 10.
Which albums sold the most?
Unleashed and Shock'n Y'all, both certified 4x platinum by the RIAA.
Which singles charted in the Hot 100?
"Red Solo Cup" reached number 15, "Who's Your Daddy?" and "Beer for My Horses" number 22, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" number 25 and "My List" number 26.
What is Show Dog?
The label he founded, which released every album from White Trash with Money in 2006 onward.
Which album is most his own?
Unleashed, Honkytonk University, White Trash with Money and That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy are all written entirely inside his own writing circle.
When did he die?
5 February 2024. Peso in My Pocket in 2021 is his last studio album.

Sources

Wikipedia: Toby Keith Wikipedia: Toby Keith discography