Toby Keith: Giving Back Is the ‘Best Thing, Outside of My Family, I’ll Ever Do’
Toby Keith doesn't miss a beat when you ask him what his most important career accomplishment is.
"Songwriters Hall of Fame's the greatest achievement," he replied without hesitation during a recent press event. The singer-songwriter notes that having a career as an artist has been wonderful, but he got into the business in order to be a songwriter, and he would still be a songwriter regardless of whether he had ever found any success.
Even so, Keith says that his biggest accomplishments of all aren't musical. Aside from having a family, the country superstar says that his life's most important work has been giving back to causes that are special to him, especially providing help for children battling cancer. After being inspired by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's mission, Keith opened the OK Kids Corral in Oklahoma City, Okla., and he says that continuing to support and grow the project is one of the most meaningful aspects of his life.
"It's an old frontier cabin, kind of, with 16 full suites, a chapel, a theater, a storm shelter, an indoor/outdoor playground -- it's an amazing facility," Keith explains. "It's probably the best thing, outside my family, I'll ever do."
Keith adds that although there are many worthy causes to support, for him, there was something special about choosing a cause that he was passionate about and fostering it, year after year.
"I think when you find that one thing that really moves you, you can go accomplish it, and it's a beautiful thing," Keith adds.
Country Stars Who Stand Up to Cancer