By India McCarty
Oklahoma will honor the late Toby Keith with a new roadside memorial, the Toby Keith Expressway.
“The honor celebrates his life, patriotism and impact on Oklahoma and the nation, and it was met with a standing ovation on the Senate floor at the hearing last week,” a statement from Keith’s social media read.
The renamed roadway was “approved by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority on Tuesday, March 3, 2026,” per Country Living. “It will run south of Oklahoma City, east to west along the border of Moore and Norman, the former of which was Toby’s hometown.”
“Toby never forgot where he came from, and this expressway will help carry his legacy forward for generations to come,” the statement continued.
Accompanying the statement is a photo of Keith’s family, wife Tricia, daughters Shelley and Krystal and son Stelen, holding up a sign that reads “Toby Keith Expressway.”
Related: Toby Keith’s Daughter Accepts His Honorary Degree 3 Months After His Death
His family shared their happiness about the tribute to Keith, with his son Stelen Covel joking, “I hope I don’t get a ticket on the Toby Keith Expressway.”
Covel added, “I think the first time we get on will be a joyous moment, for sure.”
Though Keith fans pointed out that the country singer was “vocally anti-turnpike in the years before his death,” his family said that his opinion changed before his death.
Keith died in 2024 at the age of 62 following a battle with stomach cancer.
Shortly after his death, he was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. His wife, Tricia Lucas, spoke at the ceremony.
“There will never be another Toby Keith,” she told the audience. “He was a wonderful husband, father, a son, grandfather or pop-pop to our grandkids. Brother, friend, singer, producer, businessman — he was masterful at everything he did. His music, his generosity, and his humanity will outlive not only us, but our children and their children.”
A year after his death, his family released a statement, sharing, “We have a hole in our heart and our lives. The love and support from the community that Toby created has left us all thankful and grateful. It has and continues to honor Toby. We know he would be proud of the legacy he left behind.”
“Today we hope you will celebrate and listen to his music with us, where we know he is smiling down and raising his cup,” the statement continued. “A toast to a life well lived.”
The Toby Keith Expressway is expected to be completed by 2030.
Read Next: Toby Keith Posthumously Tops Billboard Charts
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