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Toby Keith's not afraid to confront a rude fan, but neither are Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
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Country star Toby Keith isn't one to back down.
It seems folks would know not to “act up” in general, but these days, getting inappropriately rowdy at a country concert is not something that’s likely to be overlooked by the stars—never mind that security seems to be the last team on the scene.
For example, country star Toby Keith recently took matters into his own hands in Pikeville, Ky., after a (former?) fan near the front of the performance stage started pouring his beer on Toby’s stage equipment and giving the hit artist the proverbial bird.
Security wasn’t on it, like Mr. Keith—who was singing “A Little Less Talk and A Lot More Action”—felt they needed to be, and as fate unfolded, the world at large learned that the 250-pound, 6’4” Keith was far from afraid to "git-r done" on his own.
The former semi-pro football player jumped off the stage and exchanged words and solid physical contact. A good quality video of the incident surfaced on YouTube, but was pulled soon thereafter. At this writing, however, the fisticuffs clip remains viewable in full on TMZ and lesser-quality clips of the incident are still floating around online here and there.
During a March interview on cable’s Great American Country, the 47-year-old singer was unrepentant about doing his part to keep the obnoxious concertgoer from destroying his personal property, but surprised that some bloggers thought his actions were part of a bigger ploy to get publicity.
“Really?” he asked the GAC interviewer, who told him it’s been circulated he defended his equipment for media attention. In short, Keith said he “wished it was” a publicity ploy, but it wasn’t, and it was “unfortunate” that such a scene went down.
The February incident came the same month as the singer-turned-actor, 47, unveiled his new fashion line, TK Steelman, in Las Vegas. And needless to say, having just secured the 25th No. 1 single of his career to date, “God Love Her,” it’s not likely in this writer’s view that the Oklahoma-born performer was just seeking a paparazzi opportunity in Pikeville.
Keep in mind, Mr. Keith is far from the first country star to "bow up," if you will, at a moment’s notice, if someone’s not doing the right thing. Tim McGraw, for example, confronted a front-row concertgoer in Washington last summer in from the stage—during his “Indian Outlaw” intro, to be more precise—after calling security to eject the reported offender from the grounds. The man ended up leaving via the stage, but it was McGraw, not security, who got to him first.
Country music's first couple, Tim & Faith
Meanwhile, McGraw’s missus, Mississippi-born country star Faith Hill, took a fan to task, albeit via words, in 2007 after said female fan grabbed McGraw’s crotch during the couple's joint concert in Louisiana, McGraw's home state.
“Somebody needs to teach you some class, my friend. You don’t go grabbin’ somebody else’s, somebody’s husband’s balls, you understand me? That’s very disrespectful,” a perturbed Mrs. McGraw imparted to the overzealous-turned-handsy fan.
Following the incident, which was posted on YouTube but removed and widely reported, many posted their support for Faith’s in-public reaction to the concertgoer, but really, who can blame her? … Just count on country artists to speak their minds,especially if one is trying to destroy their gear, bully a woman or mess with one's spouse. It's just a given, and it's the stuff good country songs (and YouTube) are made of.
For more info: Toby Keith boycotts CMAs, again; Tim McGraw upset by Greatest Hits 3 CD; Will Tim McGraw campaign for governor?; Country stars launch fashion lines; Country music singers unafraid to get political; Real life inspires country's best love songs; Faith reacts to Tim McGraw's high-five. See below for video of Tim McGraw ejecting aggressive fan from summer 2008 concert.
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