Country music fans will witness a deeply emotional moment on Sunday, November 16, as Krystal Keith, the daughter of the late Toby Keith, steps onto the field to pay tribute to her father during the Pittsburgh Steelers–Cincinnati Bengals game.
Krystal, now 40, has been chosen to take part in the NFL’s Salute to Service initiative, a yearly tradition honoring members of the U.S. military. This year, her appearance carries added meaning—she will be honoring not only America’s service members but also the powerful legacy of her father, who passed away from stomach cancer in February 2024 at age 62.
At the start of the game, which kicks off at 1 p.m. ET at Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium, Krystal will perform the National Anthem. She will return to the field at halftime for a second performance, where she is expected to sing two beloved Toby Keith songs, according to Taste of Country.
For Krystal and the entire Keith family, the venue itself holds special significance. Toby performed the National Anthem at the very first game ever held at Acrisure Stadium back in 2001—a moment now made bittersweet as his daughter steps into the same spotlight more than two decades later.
Krystal is one of three children Toby shared with his wife, Tricia Lucus, alongside older daughter Shelley Covel Rowland and son Stelen Keith Covel. Of the three siblings, Krystal is the only one who chose to follow her father’s musical path, and she is also the only one who publicly uses his famous stage name “Keith,” rather than the family surname “Covel.”
Fans eager to watch this heartfelt tribute can tune in to the Steelers–Bengals matchup on CBS and Paramount+ at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 16.