Toby Keith closed out the 2016 American Country Countdown Awards on Sunday with a tribute to the late, great Merle Haggard, who died April 6 on his 79th birthday.
>> PHOTOS: Stars shine on the red carpet at the 2016 American Country Countdown Awards
>> PHOTOS: Scenes from the 2016 American Country Countdown Awards
Keith was backed by Haggard's band, The Strangers, which included Haggard's son, Ben. At times, Keith sounded eerily like Haggard as he performed a medley of the legend’s hits, including “Mama Tried,” “Today I Started Loving You Again,” “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink,” “Workin’ Man Blues,” “Silver Wings,” “Okie From Muskogee” and “Fightin’ Side of Me.”
Matthew McConaughey introduced the heartwarming tribute to the legend saying, “Merle forever changed the course of country music.”
>> PHOTOS: Remembering country music's Merle Haggard
Haggard's wife, Theresa, choked back tears in the audience at the start of the performance, but she was having a big time for “Workin’ Man Blues.” Florida Georgia Line and Michael Ray were among the stars spotted singing along to “Okie From Muskogee."
If you look closely at Ben Haggard’s guitar, you can see he had his dad etch his autograph into it before he died.
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