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Toby Keith Accused of Refusing to Sign Guitar for Charity

Rick Diamond, Getty Images

Toby Keith has found himself in hot water with an event organizer after a Nebraska tour stop on June 22. The country superstar, whose long list of charitable efforts includes building OK Kids Korral in his home state of Oklahoma to aid pediatric cancer patients and their families, is being accused, by a company called Creative Adventures, of denying a request to sign a guitar backstage during the Nebraskaland Days concert in North Platte, Neb. A spokesman says the guitar was to be signed to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

"One of the radio station program directors got meet-and-greets and permission to get a guitar signed for St. Jude's 2013 radio fundraiser," Joel Bieschke, vice-president of Creative Adventures tells Radaronline. "People donate to win a guitar signed by their favorite artist on the air and the money goes to help the children at St. Jude. But when we got face-to-face with Toby in the meet-and-greet line, he refused to sign the guitar and his crew told us to leave or else they were going to call security. It would have taken him 10 seconds to sign that guitar to help raise money for children who are terminally ill. I'd like to think he was not that type of guy."

Toby's road manager, David Milam, refutes the allegations, saying, "I know of no requests like that at that show. If it was asked of us for Toby to sign something for St. Jude or any other legitimate charity, we always do so. For them to think that Toby would disregard a great charity like St. Jude, when he has his own foundation that supports and has the same goals, is just stupid."

Toby has yet to publicly comment on the incident, but in 2011 the philanthropic singer told The Boot, "I'm proud to be able to affect the lives I've affected, most in the private sector, and with charities like St. Jude, Ally's House, the USO and OK Kids Korral."

Toby recently had gallbladder surgery, but didn't spend much time recuperating. He'll resume his tour tomorrow night (Aug. 3) at the WE Fest in Detroit Lakes, Minn. Keep track of his tour schedule here.

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wkeddy05

Complete BS.........Toby is one of the most Giving/Caring entertainers we have today........Some Dumb A@@ trying to get something for nothing is my guess.....Keep going Toby, the fans are behind you..........

August 04 2012 at 10:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
boobulargroove

He is not obligated to sign anything

August 03 2012 at 9:05 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
salez4u

Pure BS. Somebody messed up and wants to blame Toby, to cover thier own azz .
This simply, is not Toby's style at all. So sad, the media needs to make someone, who does so much, for others, the brunt of another "BS news story".

August 03 2012 at 4:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
lifehub

I don't believe a word of this report. HP zeroed in on this because the guy's Christian. HP hates Christians with a passion.

August 03 2012 at 4:39 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
o5419069

No way!! Somebody trying to crash the event and got caught. Toby is a generous man.

August 03 2012 at 2:51 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Wayne

If true, bad, bad move on Toby's part!

August 03 2012 at 2:41 AM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
jerry

You won't get me to believe that one. One of the world's most charitable entertainers. Someone trying to cover their own butt for some screw up they made is probably closer to the truth.

August 03 2012 at 2:01 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ccntrygrl30

I find it really hard to believe that Toby Keith would not have signed that guitar fo charity. I think this guy is full of it and probably did not make his intentions clear or did not let Toby know ahead of time about the signature. I agree that this sounds like the media wanting to smear his name like they do to so many artists.

August 03 2012 at 1:57 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
capriaalyn

Toby Keith's record on charity work should stand on its own merrit. Not only is he one of the most vocal, and active supporters of our overseas troops but he is also very active in children's charities. Not just the ones he gets press ops for either. He often does work or things under the radar for the kids. I smell something rotten here. Something very rotten in this accusation.

August 03 2012 at 1:47 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
helllonurse

I personally saw Toby in Las Vegas after the ACM and he had a child in the meet and greet room from St Judes. He is a great person

August 03 2012 at 1:24 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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