'Rightly so': Internet delighted by Toby Keith's Country Music Hall of Fame induction weeks after death

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: In a poignant moment tinged with both celebration and sorrow, country music icon Toby Keith has been named to be posthumously inducted into the prestigious Country Music Hall of Fame, as per Daily Mail.

The announcement, made just weeks after Keith's death at the age of 62 following a battle with stomach cancer, has sparked an outpouring of heartfelt tributes and bittersweet emotions from fans and fellow artists alike.

Keith's induction, alongside fellow country legends John Anderson and guitarist James Burton, is a well-deserved recognition of his remarkable career, which spanned over three decades and yielded an impressive 32 chart-topping hits.

Toby Keith to be posthumously inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame

The announcement, made on Monday, March 18, by Country Music Association CEO Sarah Trahern, was tinged with sadness as the voting results came in just a day after Keith's death.

"My heart sank, knowing that we missed the chance to inform Toby while he was still with us," Trahern shared, her voice heavy with emotion. "But I have no doubt that he's smiling down on us, knowing that he'll always be 'as good as he once was,'" she added, quoting the lyrics from Keith's 2005 hit song.

Stelen Covel, the 27-year-old son of the late singer, was present at the ceremony. Speaking to PEOPLE magazine, he acknowledged the bittersweet nature of the honor: "It's deserving. We all know he deserved it. We're happy he's in here, and we're excited for him."

Covel also revealed that the Country Music Hall of Fame induction was "always something on a checklist of a lot of things that he knew he was gonna accomplish in his life."

Official induction ceremony scheduled for October

Prior to his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, he had already been honored with membership in the Songwriters Hall of Fame (2015) and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (2021).

The official induction ceremony, scheduled for October, will also honor country musicians Anderson and Burton, elected in the Veteran Era and Recording And/Or Touring Musician categories, respectively.

Internet delighted by Toby Keith's posthumous induction

As the news of Keith's posthumous induction spread, fans took to social media to express their delight and appreciation for the legendary performer. One X user exclaimed, "Rightly so, what an amazing talent he was."

Another echoed this sentiment, stating, "This makes me very happy! Toby deserves this honor so much!!" Among the chorus of voices celebrating Keith's induction, a third user remarked, "Well earned."

Reflecting on the timing of the induction, another person shared, "Toby Keith should have been in the Country Music Hall of Fame before he passed away. Better late than never."

Further accolades poured in from fans, with one user emphasizing, "Well deserved recognition for his amazing contributions." Echoing the sentiments of many, a sixth user simply stated, "Toby deserves it!!"

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