– Time For A Tiara: Column by Ginna Young – - Don’t compromise, even if it hurts to be yourself

– Time For A Tiara: Column by Ginna Young –

I was actually going to write about something else for this column, but before I ever got a word on the page, I saw some very sad news. Country music superstar Toby Keith lost his battle with stomach cancer, at only 62 years of age, after almost a two-year long fight against the dreaded disease.

I’ll be honest, I was a wreck. I cried so hard, I gave myself a nosebleed and could hardly see, my eyes were so swollen. See, Toby Keith was one of my heroes.

Maybe he should have had more decorum, when in the public eye, but I admired him for speaking what he thought. What you saw, was what you got with him and he never took crap from anybody.

Toby started out with humble beginnings, working in the Oklahoma oil fields, before playing semi-professional football. But, music was where he shone and once he found people who believed in him, he’s remained on top ever since. In fact, despite the ravages of cancer on his body, Toby performed right up until the end, doing what he loved and connecting with people, through his real-life attitude.

From the first time I heard his songs on the radio, I was hooked. I think I probably became a country fan because of him. At first, I just really enjoyed his music, but over time, I realized he wrote a good many of the tunes, another thing I admired.

In particular, I was very inspired, when I learned what How Do You Like Me Now?! was written about. Now, in the music video (which is hysterical), Toby returns to his hometown to woo his long-time high school crush, but ends up deliberately embarrassing her, after she rejected him and made fun of him in their growing up years.

But, in a short clip shown – when CMT actually still played music – during a “greatest 100 country songs” or something like that, Toby shared that the song was written because a music producer told him he’d never make it in Nashville, Tenn., as a songwriter. “He’s cuttin’ grass now and here I am,” joked Toby.

Yeah, how do you like him now? Whether it was a humorous tune or one about heartbreak, Toby’s music seemed to resonate with not just me, but people around the world. His music videos are also iconic, with many famous guest stars.

Perhaps my favorite, is It’s a Little Too Late, where Toby is seen literally bricking up his wife or girlfriend(?) in a basement. I know, I know, not exactly appropriate, but the ending is so ding-dang funny, Mom had tears running down her cheeks, each time she watched it.

From the other side of the wall, Toby tells the woman that she has a big mouth, that her cooking stinks, her mama is a pain in the neck and that he’s better off without her. It’s only when he stops rattling off how happy he is that they’re over, that he realizes he bricked himself in, instead of her.

Well, he tries to buy her off with sweet talk, but she just rolls her eyes and goes upstairs, while Toby is left calling for help. Like I said, hysterical.

Another Mom really enjoyed, was Trailerhood, basically poking fun of those of us who don’t run for cover when a tornado warning is issued, but stand on the lawn watching the swirling vortex and speculating on how bad the damage is. Grab a sixpack and a lawn chair, there’s a tornado coming!

Beyond his funny music, was a side I admired even more – his patriotic one. That man was what I call a true patriot. He never served in the military, although his father did, but he fully supported our troops and was proud of his country, which sometimes got him in trouble with others, but so be it.

I dare anyone to watch American Soldier with a dry eye at the end, which depicts a family saying farewell to their husband and father, as he heads off for active duty, probably overseas. That just embodied who Toby was.

There were a lot of people who didn’t like the song he wrote after 9/11, Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American). Well, for me and for Mom, we were angry and that song summed it up. I was glad there was a song who showed what I felt from that day, despite a couple others from different artists that showed the sadness from that horrible day.

After I heard Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue, I just knew I had to hear him perform in-person and Mom said she felt the same way. Surprising, because she would rather have sat at home and watched it on TV. Not so, when the chance came to see Toby Keith at nearby Country Fest one year, at least a decade ago now.

Sporting her Red Solo Cup t-shirt, in honor of his hit of the same name, Mom went out of her comfort zone and attended the night Toby played. Not having a lot of money then, I worked the gate, armbanding as a volunteer for a local organization. They got the money from my shift and I got general admission tickets each time.

There, together, Mom and I waited with baited breath to see the superstar, sitting through the heat, along with some other great acts and avoiding some individuals who had a wee bit too much to drink. I also got Mom a pink lemonade in a red Solo cup, so she could hold it up when that song was performed. Finally, Toby took the stage as the last act of the night.

It was totally worth the many hours I spent volunteering at the gate, as well as the long wait (we got there about seven hours early, to make sure we didn’t miss Toby). I’ll never forget Mom laughing at the songs we knew so well and proudly holding up her red Solo cup.

I, on the other hand, was getting nervous as the set went on. When was he going to play Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue? My friend, who, with her group, had placed their chairs with ours, tried to console me, but pointed out he might not perform that one. Rubbish! He just had to! He had to!!!

I’d given up all hope at the end, because, if you’ve ever been to a concert, you know that artists perform their biggest and best hits at three points: 1. The beginning. 2. The middle. 3. The end. Well, we knew Toby was down to the last song and I figured that Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue was not “popular” enough to save for last.

Well, I still got to see him, with Mom, and that was something I never thought would happen. However, I was mistaken. Toby obviously thought that song was the most important of all and performed it with all the gusto he had in him. As the final chords struck, he spoke, saying something I carry with me still and always will.

“Don’t you EVER be ashamed of being proud to be an American!”

I sure won’t, Toby, I sure won’t. Nor will I forget the meanings of many of your songs. Like the lyrics in Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue, the big dog fought when you rattled his cage. Frankly, I consider Toby to have won that fight with cancer, because he continued doing what he always did, didn’t compromise and left a legacy that will live on, forever. I leave you with the partial chorus of another favorite song of mine, written by Toby Keith.

Justice is the one thing you should always find, you gotta saddle up your boys, you gotta draw a hard line. When the gun smoke settles, we’ll sing a victory tune and we’ll all meet back at the local saloon. And we’ll raise up our glasses against evil forces.