Video: Toby Keith Speaks His Mind to Reporter in the ACM Pressroom
Even Melinda Newman, a veteran journalist who worked for many years at Billboard, said the air seemed to be "sucked out of the room" backstage at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas when Toby Keith provided a string of expletives in rebuking a Nashville reporter for his portrayal of a Rolling Stone magazine story involving Keith and Kris Kristofferson.
The back story is that actor Ethan Hawke wrote a feature story about Kristofferson for the current issue of Rolling Stone. In it, he recounts an alleged incident at New York's Beacon Theater in 2003 during a TV taping of Willie Nelson's 70th birthday concert. Hawke doesn't mention Keith by name, but anybody who follows music or pop culture would agree on the identity of the person described as having "a monster radio hit about bombing America's enemies back into the Stone Age." At the concert, Hawke claims Keith told Kristofferson to refrain from expressing his political views, specifically saying "none of that lefty shit." Hawke says Kristofferson then responded harshly by questioning Keith's lack of military service and his right to instruct others about matters of freedom of speech.
Peter Cooper, music writer for The Tennessean newspaper, wrote about the Rolling Stone story on Friday (April 3), and Keith became aware of it later that day when CMT Insider interviewed him during rehearsals for the ACM Awards. He immediately branded the Rolling Stone article "100 percent fiction." And later, Kristofferson sent a note to Rolling Stone and The Tennessean saying he has no recollection of the incident and that he has "nothing but admiration and respect" for Keith.
Keith was apparently ready to confront Cooper when he visited the pressroom at Sunday night's (April 5) ACM Awards show, making it known that he thought Cooper blew things out of proportion in his report about what Hawke had written.
The bottom line is that this is a huge, unfortunate mess. I know Peter Cooper, and he's a highly decent guy -- a true professional who has done excellent work during his tenure as The Tennessean's main music writer. And while I'm sure Toby Keith has no idea who I am, I've interviewed him on several occasions and always found him to be extremely cordial and helpful. Does he have an ego? Sure he does, but that's a prerequisite for anybody who has the ambition and drive to achieve Keith's level of fame, wealth and power.
Maybe Keith is less angry that The Tennessean wrote about the Rolling Stone article than he was about the way Cooper couched his account of the story. (A "Moby Teeth" reference seemed to be a point of contention in Keith's string of expletives in the ACM pressroom.) And as mad as he may be with Cooper, I suspect he's even more upset with Hawke and Rolling Stone. And that's as it should be. Rolling Stone is recognized as a reliable news source -- or at least much more reliable than the tabloids and many celebrity gossip Web sites. With that in mind, Cooper had little reason to seriously question the magazine's accuracy.
In retrospect, though, questioning Hawke's reporting skills might have been a good idea, but it's easy to have 20/20 hindsight when something blows up like this. As a writer and editor, I've wrestled for hours on the phrasing of news stories that had a clear potential for controversy. You seldom get any irate response on those. It's always the routine stories that surprise you when they come back to bite you in the ass. This was a routine story for Cooper and, in retrospect, he probably wishes he'd handled the story differently. But those occasional regrets are just part of working for a daily newspaper.
And while it's a shame that Rolling Stone apparently maligned Keith in such a vicious and reckless manner, that story -- and the item in The Tennessean -- are unlikely to impact his career or family or his friendship with Kristofferson and Nelson. That's not to say Keith shouldn't be angry if blatantly inaccurate things are being written about him. Who could blame him?
As for Rolling Stone, a spokesperson says the magazine stands behind the story and Hawke's reporting. Of course they do.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
Joe says:
peter cooper is the man. he is my country music teacher. toby is retarded and cant remember anything. kris was just trying to be nice about the whole thing and toby blew it way out of proportion.
rockerbillie says:
******************************************************
Why doesn’t Peter just admit he is not funny and his attempt was not respectful. As a journalist, he should have contacted Rolling Stone to verify the story. Why would anyone believe lies that Ethan Hawke spewed??????
Toby and Kris K. are the most honest songwriters and artists out there. To have such erroneous garbage in print dissing both of them is despicable.
Doug555 says:
Hey Red- right back atcha!
trisha says:
I think Peter Cooper is a great writer, and he is damn funny. Go Peter!
RedMaZ says:
Hey, you two have some good comebacks. Have you been watching Happy Days reruns? It’s nice of you to turn another blog into something about me, but next time bring something to the table other than your appetite for my attention..
KG says:
Hey Joe, are you a vandy student also??
Ron says:
Toby is asking the writer if he’s nervous but shouldnt Toby be more scared of the writer? That guy could write a ton of negative press about Toby Keith and everyone will read it. So if I was Toby I’d be nervous to have that writer have it out for me.
rockerbillie says:
Great words m&m, amen!
******************************************************
I agree Tom. It all is ridiculous. Bottom line…. as Journalists in Tennessee, they should go by credibility. Toby, Kris and Willie are credible and honest individuals.
Ethan will ‘Hawk’ anything is a prick.
Joe says:
yes i am. the coop knows what he is talking about. fyi to rocketbill… rolling stones is sticking with their story.
RedMaZ says:
Still about me? Bring it.
Jimmy James says:
Peter Cooper tried to be funny and it back-fired on him. As a professional, Cooper should have known better than to write anything about TK until he heard TK’s side of the story and actually verified the facts. Just because it was in Rolling Stone doesn’t mean jack.
Toby gave Cooper both barrels, which he deserved. As far as TK needing to be ‘nervous’ because Cooper can give TK bad press, that’s just silly. Any press is good press. Except of course in a case like Cooper’s lame article, which in some ways will no doubt help TK sell a few more albums.
Please don’t stick up for Cooper. I’m sure he’s a great guy, but he F’d up, and now he needs to apologize and take his lumps. Life goes on.
trisha says:
So true, they are spoiled brats, and people with real problems just roll their eyes at their little hissy fits about nothing important.
RedMaZ says:
They don’t call him Toby Queef for nothing
Holly says:
A message for Toby Keith:
I hate dishonesty too and everything that goes with it!!!
You hang in there, okay? I am with you. (smiles)
Oh and thank you so much for taking the time to hang with another one of my favorite male singers before the ACM awards: James Otto. (smiles)
God bless you and him and your family always!!!
Holly in East Tennessee
rockerbillie says:
Right on Jimmy James!! whoever said Toby should be afraid of a reporter, get Real and grow up! Toby is afraid of nothing. He stands up for the truth and he will take those to task who deserve it. Peter Cooper, just give up, you have lost your credibility as a good reporter.
Rolling Stone must be hurting for bucks, that is why they are keeping the story in. They turned their back on ethics, no surprise.
Amy says:
Ditto - JimmyJames, Holly, and rockerbillie. As a reporter for The Tennessessan - Cooper should have contacted Toby, Willie, and Kris. He should know better than to trust an article written by a Hollywood type about folks in Country Music. Cooper has damaged his credibility and now everything he writes will be questioned-his own fault for not checking the sources. I am glad that Cooper acknowledged that he was responsible for perpetuating the false story.
B.W. LaRoy says:
Go TK. Another of the few REAL MEN in COUNTRY music.
solongsowrong says:
Real men of Country music? Billy Joe Shaver would eat him for lunch.
greatdivide says:
Amen solongso
greatdivide says:
get a comment deleted for calling him and Mcgraw babies,lol..At least ya’ll agree with the “Toby Queef” comment someone left.(Probably don’t know what that means)
And when is CMT going to show the video of a drunken John Rich trying to rough up the kid from Nashvile Star while he was on stage in a bar trying to make a living? Or play all of the threating voice mails him and Sebastain Bach made to him? I know these fools work for CMT and all,but geez you could report the truth about them every now and then..Don’t worry, no other channel wants to broadcast Gone Country or any of Toby Keiths sucky movies.You won’t lose that honor!
CHELLE ROSE says:
i read about this. then i watched the video footage. truth is… i expected TK to be raging… but he keeps his cool in the video better than i expected… with that being said… PETER COOPER has gained tremendous RESPECT as a music critic for as long as i can remember. he doesn’t say NASTY things about people… he hints at funny things often… and JUST LIKE THE REST OF US… sometimes you hit and sometimes you miss. depending on how you feel about TOBY KEITH will put you on one side or the other.
me. i don’t even care what PETER COOPER reported.
i can watch/listen to TOBY KEITH for 2 minutes and tell that he has a SUPER-SIZED EGO and personally i don’t care how many records he’s sold…and ESPECIALLY how many went to number 1! it’s all bought and paid for and it doesn’t impress REAL MUSIC LOVERS. which by the way… PEOPLE ARE STARVED FOR REAL MUSIC!
Mr. Keith may a lot of fans out there… and that’s good for him! but there’s A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE… that think he is NASTY. money can equal power for some of these guys. I’VE SEEN A WHOLE LOT OF THEM LOSE THEIR MONEY AND DROP OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
in the end… the PETER COOPER’S of the world will STILL BE STANDING. strong and steady. with integrity… and RESPECT.
GreysRiver says:
I’m a big fan of Toby Keith, but he should show more “Class” like George Strait and Alan Jackson, instead of dressing and talking like lower class society. Show more class, Toby! You would get more respect, the respect you deserve.
Jackson says:
people need to take it easy on Toby Keith…im still a fan..I wonder if he’ll be on that special MSG is showing april 9th at 10.. if you check out the site Beacon Theater Stars..theres interviews with other performers who’ve played there..good stuff
crazy horse says:
TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT PUT MR.KEITH DOWN.ARE CRAZY I DO NOT KNOW THIS EATHAN HAWK PERSON.I CAN TELL U ONE THING TOBBY KEITH AS MORE PRIDE IN HIS LITTLE FINGER THAN ANY OF U CREPPY REPOTOER EVER HAD. ALL YALL DO IS LOOK FOR THE NEGTAIVE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT COUNTY MUSIC AND ANY OTHER THING THAT GOSE ON IN THE WORLD.AND GRAYS RIVER U DO NOT TALK ABOUT HOW OR WHAT PEOPLE WEAR.TOBBY KEITH IS ONE BAD MAN AND IF COULD MEET HIM I WOULD BE VERY PRDE KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK MR. KEITH. AND BUMPED THE STUPID MEDIA
mark says:
toby should be mad and the newspaper should fire the reporters they should follow up and see if what they are reporting is true or false or go work for the enquirer and toby should sue the reporters and newspaper
Phyllis says:
Why do reporters print lies about people? I love Toby Keith I think he has done a lot for our troops what has the reporters done for our troops? I think Toby Keith is a very honest man
Linda Dawson says:
You go TK!! I believe on going to the source of lies and TK did! What is wrong with confronting and getting the matter straightened out? Would you want the lies out there getting bigger? I think NOT! I agree with Phyllis, Mark and Crazy horse and any of those who support Toby!! You go Toby!!
Kathie says:
First of all, why is Ethan Hawke writing a story for Rolling Stone about an incident that happened SIX years ago? Is it suddenly news worthy for some reason? Toby Keith has a right to be angry and call those responsible for their comments to task. Cooper should have checked his facts and then realized that it wasn’t worth repeating. Rolling Stone must be hurting for material if they’re willing to risk their “stand-up” reputation for a story like this. Toby has had his say and I think it will drop unless someone else keeps it going. I find from everything I have read or seen of Toby on interviews that he is a force to be reckoned with but also very straightforward. You will know where you stand with him; piss him off and he’ll tell you about it. I would much rather deal with someone like Toby than someone who sneaks around and drop “hints” at who said this or that and not have the balls to stand up and take it like a man.
JENKY FROM THE TRUTH says:
SOUNDS LIKE ANOTHER BUNCH OF LIBERALS DEFENDING A DISRESPECTFUL WRITER!!! SURE I’M WRONG IN YOUR OPINION. IT’S TIME REPORTERS ARE PUT UNDER THE MICROSCOPE! HE HAD NOT ONE ANSWER FOR TOBY. AND IT DON’T MATTER IF IT’S TOBY OR ANYBODY!!!! GET IT FROM ALL THE PEOPLE INVOLVED-LIKE WITH REAL QUOTES FROM ALL PARTIES INVOLVED. SO YOU GUYS THINK YOU CAN WRITE WHAT YOU WANT WITHOUT KNOWING A DA-MN THING ABOUT THE TRUTH FROM ALL PARTIES! WRITE THE TRUTH-IT WON’T KILL YOU!!! ARE THERE ANY REAL AMERICANS LEFT!!!OUR MEDIA THINK THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DISHONESTY!LOOK IN THE MIRROR! DON’T MESS WITH REAL MEN AND THIER LIVES MEDIA!!
Gina says:
Toby rocks. At least he has backbone enough to tell it like it is to whoever and stand up. More famous people/musicians/celebrities should be more like him. He is not fake and never will be.
He has my respect.
Linda says:
Go for it Toby! I’m sick of the reporting in this country that doesn’t investigate facts. Too many people have to just let things go or they would be consumed by the “Bull….” that is written. I agree that freedom of “speach” is important but people need to start taking a stand about the stupid/lazy reporting that is done just to make money, or to say “negative” things just because they don’t like someone or their politics.
Maybe next time someone goes to write something about Toby, or someone else, they’ll get their facts straight beforehand.
Lanny says:
anyone that thinks toby gives a damn what the nashville brass thinks has their head stuck in the sand. nashville started screwing over toby right from the beginning of his career. he wasn’t even nominated for the award for new artist. even though he had a cd with 4 or 5 big hits, including shoulda been a cowboy (the most played country song in the 90s). they been trying to screw over him ever since. in spite of that he was the highest paid country singer according to forbes magazine. he is a true singer song writer. remember his song “the critic” from one of his early cds. hits this reporter crap dead on.
he doesn’t need anyones approval but you better not lie about him in the press because he is going to call you out.
he has a legion of die hard fans, he doesn’t need the nashville critics.
he will put a boot in your ass. lol
Lanny says:
i just watched the video of toby at the press room. he was very under control and put cooper in his place. cooper was back pedaling big time and as much as admitted that he supersized the false story by ethan hawke. i think he wishes he had never heard of ethan hawke about now. toby was great in the interview. i wish he had left out the expletives though. the jist of the conversation showed toby was telling the truth.
rockerbillie says:
Toby tells it like it is. He is THE Man. Peter Cooper, whatever you were before this, you are not now. Reporting false stories from low life actors that have no clue what country is about…. well Peter you are now on the level of Enquirer. Deal with that.
Carol Walsh says:
I love the honesty of all three of these guys,Willie ,Toby and Kris.If these stupid reporters can’t tell the truth then they should just keep quiet.I’d sure hate to have Toby,Kris and Willie gunnin;for my A**,
Molly says:
I love Toby and always will. Intelligent, talented, and caring.
Don’t try to put one over on him…trying to smear him will only
make him mad. You might wind up being a spot of grease on the
pavement. But no, he is a gentleman too, don’t worry.
Only criticism for Mr. TKC? Check your mouth sweetheart.
The vile language is for people whose language skills are
really bad. Yours isn’t don’t lower yourself to anyone’s level.
M.
the southern yankee says:
why do people act the way they do? everybody has an attitude in this country. people need to take care of what concerns them and grow up. the so called nashville crowd is not above anyone or anything else. get your heads out of your butts and get real.
jenky says:
GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DON’T WANT TO BE PUBLISHED HATE TO MAKE LIBERALS GET THIER WAY BUT THEY DO!!!!!
jenky says:
THIS MIGHT BE A INTERESTING POLL!!! GET THE PEOPLE WHO VIEW THIS PAGE TO VOTE WHO THEY THINK WAS RIGHT OR WRONG!!
TOBY KIETH
PETER COOPER
THAN HAWKE
ROLLIN STONES MAG.
NOW THATS THELLING THE TRUTH AS WELL AS THE EYE COULD SEE!!!!!!! JUST A SUGGESTION!!!! BET ALOT OF CONTY MUSICIANS WOULD POST UP!!! TOBY- WILLIE - KRIS
THESE PEOPLE WERE VIOLATED!!!!! BET YOU WON’T
BUT I COULD BE WRONG!!!! SEEMS LIKE A NICE WAY TO SEE WHERE PEOPLE STAND!!! FOR ME I LIKE STANDING IN THE GOOD O’LE U.S.A.
Lanny says:
hey AMY it is real easy to see you hate toby. i bet you are still ticked off that he put the chicks on the sideline. lol as for toby’s career, you couldn’t be less informed. did you ever hear of forbes magazine? well, according to forbes, last year toby netted more income than any other country artist and all but three of all artists. he has also done it on his own without the nashville establishement support. toby will be collecting residuals from all the songs he has written long after most artists have been retired.
Amy says:
To Lanny: I guess. If you judge talent by how much money someone rakes in. That’s just a statement on the bad taste of the majority of society. I could rattle off a never-ending list of bad artists that made alot of money. Shows where your priorities lay. I’m happy he’s gonna retire a rich man. Hope he goes away quietly to his island and keeps his big mouth shut!!! Weeeeeeee!!!! This is fun, isn’t it? Now we’re acting as juvenile as Toby. You can blast me one more time, but this is getting boring. See ya. I’m done.
RedMaZ says:
Congratulations to Peter Cooper on his Top 10 album.
horsetraderfrmOK says:
Why can’t Toby catch a break from the likes of the thugs that go after him? The reason being they’re jealous of his success. It doesn’t matter where these lowlifes come from, entertainment or the Press. It constantly amazes me how one guy who can say what he believes in gets the treatment Toby does and those that are paid to say what they do can find fault. Isn’t it time for the latter to clean up their act? There’s those who feel that Toby doesn’t fit the mold of being the success he is. Doesn’t this go back to the jealousy issue? Those who know and know of him; not to mention, who have followed him (not the fair weather fans) have nothing but admiration for him as a whole. So back off of him and go after those who tend to kiss ass will ya.
RedMaZ says:
“You Don’t Have to Like Them Both” is the name of the CD.
Melissa says:
wow…there are far worse things going on in the world, lighten up.
zoe says:
Yee-haw! Hillbillies gone wild!
Lanny says:
hey melissa and zoe: if you think this is nothing to waste time on why don’t you butt out? i bet you read every response to the article. come down off your mountain top.
cmyers53 says:
I have known Toby Kieth since he worked as a derrick hand in the oilfields in Oklahoma andTexas. and he’s always been honest and ture to his friends family and to God. He’ll give you the shirt off his back if you really need it and won’t put up with no nonsence from anyone. I worked in those same oilfields when he did and I know that when he says that he’s gonna do anything then he’ll do it no matter what.So how do like him now? I like him just the way he has always been true and blue to his roots.
kaseyc says:
Get over it! Toby Keith is an amazing artist, and no one has ever held him back, we need more AMERICANS like, and as far as lack of service, look who we have leading this country, at least Toby has sacrificed his time and talent to support our troops, what’s this Cooper guy done? Gotten fame/money off of those who actually achieve goals and rise above all the bs that’s in the media. You guys only write about crap to get a rise and gossip…Toby Keith Covell tells it like it is, he’s a true gentleman and deserves all the respect that is due him. Go get a life!
RedMaZ says:
Some of my favorite tracks from their New CD…
“Down To The Well”. They do a good version of the Kevin Gordon classic.
zoe says:
Hell yeah, I read these postings cause they’re damn hilarious!!!! I also wonder why some of the postings that are too critical seem to magically disappear. Does Toby have control over this, too?