Toby Keith Pulls Freeper's Punch at Dixie Chicks

Entertainment Weekly (login required) ^ | October 31, 2003 | Chris Willman

[L.N. Smithee]

Toby Keith, in an interview published in the current issue of Entertainment Weekly magazine, speaking of his public feuding with the we're-not-country-anymore group the Dixie Chicks, says the following:

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But it's his feud with ''miserable person'' Maines that's earned Keith the most attention lately. ''She said my song makes country music look ignorant and you've gotta have more tact and be responsible,'' says Keith. ''They had a song called 'Earl Must Die' or something ['Goodbye Earl']. How hypocritical is that? How can you come off of a song with the message that if your husband abuses you, you're supposed to kill him and stick him in the trunk, or whatever -- I never heard it, but people told me about it -- and then call me ignorant for saying, 'Hey, you flew these planes into these buildings. We're angry about it, and we're gonna come get you'?''

Despite the F.U.T.K.-wear, Keith has no intention of lighting up Maines' world anymore. Last summer, his crew ''put up on our big screen an Internet picture somebody [concocted] of her and Saddam. The crowd went nuts. It was funny for a few nights, and then it started eating at me. I thought, You know what? I don't have that mean of a heart, to be able to kick somebody in the crotch like that. Just because she's young and spouted off, that's a little hardcore. So I put an end to it.''

Toby Keith -- the let-bygones-be-bygones, not-so-angry American? Well, maybe. But also, he adds, ''if I'm gonna do anything, it's gotta be funnier than that.'' In other words: Watch your a--, Natalie.

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[ChemistCat]

You can't listen to HUCKLEBERRY and think he doesn't like women. "I LOVE THIS BAR" shows that he has a sense of humor about both genders.

[ChemistCat]

The rest of the album may disappoint you, though he did a great cover of a Croce standard.

I have great hopes for Josh Turner for the future.

Anybody get the last Johnny Cash? Okay, he could't sing anymore, but that first song on there is just as striking as HURT. It's like having your grandpa sing to you. Bet the Lord is glad to have him up there again; I know June is!

[ChemistCat]

If you can get the new one that comes out this week, post a review here, okay? I won't have the money to get it for awhile. :-(

[Nita Nupress]

Will do.

[bootless]

I saw Toby a couple months back in the Bay Area, with two acts warming up - one of which was Blake Shelton (Playboys of the Southwestern World, big Red) - he was great!

Second time to see TK - first was 5 years ago at the Alameda County Fair! Glad to see he's ushering Scotty Emerick's career along - what a talented kid!

I loved the bus songs, and "I'll Never Smoke Weed With Willie Again" and "The Taliban Song" are both on "Shock'n Y'All" (a great CD title).

TK is geniune - heard him on Sean Hannity on Thursday.

The concert was great - lots more production than I expected, but we were there for the music.