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Luke Combs’s Emotional Response To Being In Toby Keith’s Last Video

Luke Combs’s Emotional Response To Being In Toby Keith’s Last Video

Toby Keith in 2008 on a CMT red carpet wearing a brown jacket and cowboy hat.
Stephen Lovekin/GEtty Images

Luke Combs says appearing in the video for Toby Keith's last recording session is 'Hard To Put Into Words.' Luke had an emotional response to being in Toby Keith's last video.

The Video

The last studio recording of Toby Keith's career has been released as a music video. It features a collaboration with Luke Combs on Joe Diffie's hit "Ships That Don't Come In."  The video marks Keith's final recording session before passing in February 2024 and includes previously unheard vocals from Diffie. 

What Luke Combs Said

According to the Tennessean, Luke was honored to be part of this collaboration. He said, "To be on a song with Toby was a no-brainer when it got presented to me. That was something I had always hoped to do but never knew if it would happen or not," Combs offers via a press statement. "It being one of Joe's songs, especially this one, made it even better; he was there the night I got inducted into the Opry and actually gave me my Opry member award. I grew up listening to both of those guys' music, so to be a part of this version of the song and it now be Toby's last recording is kind of hard to put into words. Country music misses them greatly, but I hope we're doing justice to continue what they started."

The Timing

The release coincides with NBC's tribute concert for Keith and the upcoming induction of Diffie into the Country Music Hall of Fame.  Joey Moi's "DIFFTAPE" album, which honors Diffie's legacy, features collaborations with various artists.

The late Joe Diffie's song "Ships That Don't Come In" is one of my personal favorites. It is sad enough on its own. But now that the video features Toby Keith who has passed away. And the song is from Joe Diffie who we lost to Covid a few years back. That just makes it even more emotional.

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