Introduction:
Toby Keith and the CMA: A Country Music Legend Who Walked His Own Path
Toby Keith was never one to play by the rules—and that included the rulebook of the Country Music Association (CMA). His stormy relationship with the CMA Awards has become a talking point in the country music world, not only because of the cold shoulder he received from the association, but also because of how confidently he responded to it. The Oklahoma-born artist, known for his gritty voice and flag-waving anthems, wasn’t shy about voicing his frustrations. And as the years went on, that frustration turned into indifference.
At first, the relationship between Keith and the CMA wasn’t hostile. In fact, in 2004, he took the stage at the 38th CMA Awards with his daughter Krystal to perform Mockingbird, earning praise and even winning Music Video of the Year the following year. But by 2006, cracks had formed. In an interview with The Seattle Times, Keith admitted that despite his dominance on the Billboard charts—often ahead of big names like Tim McGraw and Keith Urban—he had received very little recognition from the CMAs. Out of 24 nominations at the time, he had only walked away with two wins.
The numbers didn’t lie. His albums topped charts, fans packed arenas, and he won just about every other major award—from the AMAs to the People’s Choice, from the CMAs to the Academy of Country Music Awards. Yet, the CMA Awards remained elusive. “Not even a bone once in a while,” Keith remarked. “Zilch. Eight nominations and zilch.” It was hard not to see the disconnect between his popularity and the industry’s recognition.
By 2008, Keith had stopped attending the CMA Awards altogether. His album That Don’t Make Me a Bad Guy debuted at number one on the country charts, and Forbes listed him as the top-earning country artist of the year, raking in $48 million—trailing only Beyoncé and The Police among all musicians. Still, the CMAs offered no nod. In response, he quipped, “I want to be the mac daddy of Forbes—that’s the one I want to win.”
Some suggest the CMA’s decisions have more to do with politics than performance. The association comprises more than 6,800 industry professionals who vote internally. The fans have no say. This disconnect was spotlighted again recently when Morgan Wallen didn’t win Entertainer of the Year despite overwhelming fan support. Keith, too, had been no stranger to controversy—particularly with his outspoken political views and his 2003 feud with Dixie Chicks’ Natalie Maines.
But for Keith, life was too short for grudges. In a 2003 interview, he reflected on a moment that shifted his perspective: after learning that a friend’s young daughter was terminally ill, he saw a tabloid framing his feud with Maines as a “fight to the death.” That, he said, made it all seem trivial.
In the end, Toby Keith didn’t need a CMA Award to validate his legacy. He had the fans. He had the music. And he had the grit to stand alone.