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Toby Keith Has a Grudge

Ethan Hawke and Peter Cooper, beware: Toby Keith holds grudges. The country superstar admits he doesn't quickly forgive and forget.

"I can hold a grudge," he tells The Gadsden Times. "There are certain things that can be forgiven, but if you're gonna tell a lie about me and then back it up like it's the truth, and try to make your star brighter ... if you can't work in your business and you have to resort to finding and critiquing other people and making up lies about other people and putting it in the press to try and make your star power bigger, then yeah, I've got a problem with that."

Toby is obviously still licking his wounds over Hawke's recent Rolling Stone article that detailed an alleged encounter between Toby and Kris Kristofferson, painting Toby in a rather unflattering light. Cooper, a reporter for Nashville's Tennesseean newspaper, then took a public tongue lashing from Toby over his own article about Hawke's story. Toby blames jealousy for the movie star and reporters' motivations.

"Guys who come out in the press who were famous who were trying to make their star brighter because they can't have what I've got ... you gotta come take this and you can't," he says. "So, if you can't do as well as I'm doing, then the only thing you can do is take shots at me. That's expected. It's jealous, and it's envious."

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Toby vehemently denies the heated exchange with Kristofferson ever took place. Kristofferson says he simply doesn't remember it, but admits his wife does recall what happened. Regardless of who's right or wrong, Toby argues that he was wrongly attacked and would never himself do that to anyone else.

"When you reach the top of your game, you worked your butt off to get there and you go about your business ... I don't attack other people," he says. "You never hear it in the press, 'Toby Keith attacks so-and-so,' and singles out this act or singer."

Toby is currently in the middle of this seventh USO tour in the Middle East.

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Gayle

People forget that the Dixie Chicks Namely Natalie went after Toby Keith.. She didnt like his song..

May 06 2009 at 11:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
belindaj66

The Dixie Chicks ruined their own careers with Natalie"s big mouth. Toby doesnt need to throw hissy fits to get into the press. All the things hes done for our troups. Ive seen him many times in concert and had the pleasure of getting to meet him back stage. He was nothing but polite to my daughters and myself. You people need to get a grip!

May 06 2009 at 8:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
randyking9

Ethan Hawkes article had less to do with T.K. and more to do with the direction of our society and what we regard as music and lyrics for entertainment. The difference between Kristopherson's era and T.K.'s era is that Kris had poetic, meaningful thought to his songs and Toby just wants to make a buck at the expense of others. The article claims that Toby wont answer the question if he ever wore this country's uniform, had killed anyone in combat and then cashed the check that his country gave him for that task. The answer is no. Kris on the other hand was an Army Ranger and attainen the rank of captain. The Waylon quote in the article sums Toby Keith, and many "country" artists perfectly. "guys like that are doing to country music, what panty hose did for finger f*&@ing".

May 06 2009 at 11:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kent

Personally, I agree with Toby. Ethan Hawke is a washed-up has-been whose greatest claim to fame is that he cheated on Uma Thurman.

As for the Chicks, they deserved every bit of criticism that they have or will receive. If a Chicks song comes on the radio, I change stations.

If I remember correctly, the Chicks started things by criticizing Toby's song, "The Angry American", claiming that it made country music sound as if only rednecks from the South listened to the genre.

May 05 2009 at 9:59 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ravenvelvet

Toby Just Shut Up and Sing

May 05 2009 at 5:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rollinthundert

TK's star shines because of his work, if you don't like his work, don't buy his cds and change the radio station, get over it, please!
I became angry with the Dixie Chicks for their anti-American smear on foreign soil before I knew of TK's comments regarding them, they were running down our President and our Country. Whether this comment is relavent or not, the fact remains, anyone who will stand for MY Country, whether I like his work,way or opinion or not, I will stand beside him. He spoke up for America and the star that did shine wasn't the man as the artist but the man as the Patriot.

May 05 2009 at 3:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dennis Cubbage

welllllllll.....mr. keith certainly has come a long ways from the oil fields of oklahoma...i admit, i do like some of his work, however, some of it i dont...there is nothing wrong for him to support our troops....however, i wonder just why didnt he join the military if he is so fond of it....it does however seem that he is constantly whinning about this or that....some of what he stands for i agree with....however, be real, be honest, and be consistent...dont preach family values then do videos showing yourself behind chicken wire in a beer joint with beer bottles flying by or in another joint hitting a set of buxom brunette twins and you are seen popping that little blue pill....i have met toby keith...he is somewhat arrogant and a brash...but thats what i expected...however, i also know he can be very generous....but to sum it all up...i really dont care one way or another

May 05 2009 at 12:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
babyti13

Give me a break. I have worked for Toby Keith and he is an awesome guy. If he dissed your 4 yr old at a signing its probably because you didn't listen to the instructions about getting something personal signed. I didn't see him be a jerk to anyone at the meet and greets he did, he thanked my husband for his ongoing service to our country and even tipped him for being his driver for the day of the concert. If you don't like him stop reading about what he does, or says.

May 04 2009 at 11:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Linda Sinclair

Toby Keith is a punk, and a liar. He can't sing, all he can do is complain like the bitch that he is.

May 04 2009 at 11:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
The Templetons

The Dixie Chicks ruined their own so-called career! You go Toby! I don't like all his music but haven't seen a SUPER STAR sign all things thrown in their face even from 4 year olds who wouldnt't remember it in 20 years from now away! Get a life people...it's the media that shows you what they want good or bad!

May 04 2009 at 11:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply