In the year two-thousand and eighteen, at the grand assembly of the Academy of Country Music, there arose a moment most wondrous and unforgettable. For Blake Shelton, long absent from that noble stage, returned at last, to the delight of the multitude who awaited him with eager hearts.
Many among the crowd whispered in anticipation, wondering which of his ballads he would choose to lift upon the air. Some spoke of “I Lived It,” his song of memory, while others thought he might grace them with the beloved “I’ll Name the Dogs.” Yet Shelton, with the wisdom of surprise, did neither.
Instead, as part of the “Throwback” commemoration, he joined arm in arm with the mighty Toby Keith, a troubadour of great renown, whose name is etched deep in the lore of country music. Together, they paid homage to the year of 1993, when Keith’s voice first thundered across the land.
Their chosen hymn was none other than Keith’s first great triumph — “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.” By fate’s hand, the year also marked the song’s twenty-fifth turning, a milestone so great that Keith himself had named his tour “The Should’ve Been a Cowboy Tour XXV.”
When Shelton and Keith raised their voices as one, the hall was set alight. The people rose to their feet, clapping and crying out with joy, their spirits carried high upon the anthem. The thunder of applause echoed like a storm across the chamber, and even their fellow minstrels looked on with reverence.
Thus it was written: on that night, the brotherhood of Shelton and Keith rekindled a flame from decades past. Their song became not mere performance, but a celebration — a remembrance, a fellowship, and a triumph worthy of the ages.
