Recently, something special happened at a Brooks & Dunn concert in Thackerville, Oklahoma. They invited a famous person named Terry Bradshaw to join them on stage. Terry is known for being a great football player from the NFL and for talking about games on TV. But he’s not just a sports guy—he also acts, sings country music, and raises horses!
Terry used to live in Thackerville on a big 74-acre ranch where he took care of his horses. He moved away last year to be closer to Dallas and Fort Worth, but he still knows the area well, especially the Winstar arena where the concert was. So when Brooks & Dunn were performing there, they asked him to come sing with them.
Kix Brooks, one of the singers from Brooks & Dunn, brought Terry out on stage. The crowd cheered loudly because Terry is a big deal—he’s even in the Football Hall of Fame! Kix said Terry “might sing,” but everyone knew it was planned. Before he started, Terry talked to the audience about why he picked a certain song.
He said, “I’m going to sing a song my good friend Toby Keith wrote. We both had cancer at the same time. We used to make commercials together, and I raise Quarter Horses while he raised Thoroughbred horses. My horse friend Steve Davis is here tonight too. Toby and I would talk, and I’d ask, ‘Hey, how are you?’ He’d say, ‘Some days are good, some are bad. God has a plan for me, I don’t know what it is.’ I’d tell him, ‘Keep going, I’m praying for you,’ and he’d say, ‘I’m praying for you too.’”
Terry then shared a little about his own fight with cancer. He beat one type, but then got another. He made a funny joke, saying, “Thanks to Brooks & Dunn for opening the show for me tonight!” He told the crowd that Kix had called him after hearing him sing this song in Branson, Missouri, and asked him to perform it at Winstar.
Terry was a bit nervous at first. He said he’s used to singing for small groups of about 200 older people who can’t hear well. “They’re all about 80 years old,” he laughed. “I never get a big cheer because they can’t stand up!” He kept joking, saying he hoped he’d remember the words to the song. Luckily, they put the lyrics on the floor for him, but he said he could barely see them. “If you see me squinting, just say, ‘Bless his heart!’” he told the crowd.
Right before he sang, Terry looked up and said, “Toby, I love you, buddy. I hope I sing this song well for you.” Then he sang “Don’t Let The Old Man In,” a song Toby Keith wrote. It was a beautiful moment. You could feel how much Terry cared about his friend. The song’s words are sad and strong, and knowing Terry and Toby both fought cancer makes it even more touching.
Toby isn’t here anymore—he lost his battle with cancer—but Terry is keeping his memory alive. When you hear Terry sing, it might make you cry because it’s so full of heart. Toby was probably smiling down from above, happy to see his friend honor him like that. It’s a moment you won’t forget! You can watch it and see for yourself.
