Toby Keith Kept His Kids Humble By Telling Them They Were “One Generation Away From White Trash With Money”

The Big Dog Daddy would have turned 64 years old today, July 8th.

Over his career, Toby Keith had 20 number-one hits. He also had a couple of dozen hits that landed in the top ten or top twenty on the Billboard Chart, making his career total of charted singles a whopping 65. Toby Keith was 31 years old when his breakout single “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” went number one on the charts, so if you do some quick math, he was averaging two hits a year before he passed in 2024.

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While Toby Keith has had many career milestones, one that he should be proud of is the first record he released on his own label, Show Dog Nashville. Founded in 2005 by Keith, Show Dog Nashville would later merge with Universal South Records to form Show Dog-Universal Music. Show Dog had a few other name changes, re-emerging at Show Dog Records in 2015 and then severing its relationship with Universal South Records in 2019. Currently, Show Dog distributes its artists’ music through Thirty Tigers.

Given that Keith founded Show Dog Nashville to specialize in fostering country artists, it was only right for the Big Dog Daddy himself to release a record from his label. In 2006, Keith released White Trash With Money, and the title for that record holds a place near and dear to his heart.

By the time White Trash With Money was released, Keith had solidified his status as a major country player, but he came from humble roots. The Oklahoma native was not always the most fortunate and knows the struggles of trying to get by, just paying your bills. Keith was inspired by this time in his life and how far he had come, which led him to create the title White Trash With Money. While it might signify some of the hardships of his life, he also made sure to instill in his kids that just because they grew up comfortable, if they were not wise with their finances, they too were just “one generation away from white trash with money.”

In a sit-down with Kix Brooks, Keith explains:

“You educate your kids and say you know, ‘Hang on to what we’ve got here.’ And I also try and teach them that it wasn’t always this easy. You got everything you want, you know?

You’re just one generation away from white trash with money. You know what I mean? So I know what it’s like to not be able to pay your bills. I can actually say that I’ve had a trailer house repossessed. You know? 

So it’s… You have to be very thankful every day and know the only thing harder than making a lot of money is hanging onto it.”

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Wise words from the Big Dog Daddy.

Toby Keith’s kids had a good head on their shoulders growing up and often did not realize that it was such a big deal that their father was a country music star. His daughter, Krystal, once recalled telling kids at school that her father was a plumber.

“I think I thought everybody’s dad had a job like my dad … he might as well have been a plumber. In fact, that’s what I told people he did. Later on in life, when people would find out who he was, and then they would come ask me a question I knew they knew the answer, they’d be like, ‘What does your dad do for a living?’ I’d be like, ‘He’s a plumber.’

And they’d be like, ‘What’s his name?’ And it was always Mark.” 

He’s just a regular guy with a 9-5 in their eyes.

Toby Keith’s advice still rings true, as many people who come into money do not handle it well and end up blowing it all. Turn up a few songs off White Trash With Money to celebrate Toby Keith’s heavenly birthday.

Gone but never forgotten.

“Crash Here Tonight”

“Get Drunk And Be Somebody”

The post Toby Keith Kept His Kids Humble By Telling Them They Were “One Generation Away From White Trash With Money” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.