Toby Keith’s Music Surges On The Billboard Charts

In the nearly year and a half since Toby Keith passed away, the country superstar has maintained a steady presence on the Billboard charts. He lives on through his work, with countless fans across the United States continuing to buy and stream the music he left behind. Much of that attention has centered around one compilation that gathers many of his most popular tunes, 35 Biggest Hits.

That project is once again climbing the rankings in the country superstar’s home nation. This frame, 35 Biggest Hits appears on two charts in the U.S., and it surges on both as consumption grows.

Toby Keith Almost Returns to the Top 10

On the Top Country Albums chart, the compilation nearly reenters the top 10, jumping from No. 21 to No. 12. At the same time, 35 Biggest Hits nearly halves its position on the Billboard 200 — which takes into account all genres — soaring from No. 103 to No. 54.

Consumption Climbs by More Than 20%

According to Luminate, in the past tracking period across America, 35 Biggest Hits shifted just over 14,500 equivalent album units, between sales and streaming activity. That’s up more than 21% from the previous frame, when it moved just 12,000. A gain of nearly 2,500 units – even when spread between actual purchases and streaming activity – for any title is notable, and especially so when it’s a set that’s already been out in the world for well over a decade.

Toby Keith’s Posthumous No. 1 Album

The compilation, which features dozens of Keith’s most beloved tracks, has already reached No. 1 on both Billboard rankings it currently inhabits. It only climbed to the top spot on the Billboard 200 following Keith’s passing, as Americans rushed to revisit his music and celebrate his legacy. In doing so, fans made Keith one of a select few artists to earn a posthumous chart-topper on that tally.

Why is Toby Keith’s Music Surging?

Several recent events have reignited interest in Keith’s catalog. Country musician Riley Green’s cover of “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” has gone slightly viral, and it continues to rack up views, reminding people of how much they love Keith’s song. A horse once owned by Keith also raced in this year’s Kentucky Derby, and it made headlines only due to the musician’s popularity.

Blake Shelton recently revealed while promoting his new album that he originally recorded “I Wanna Talk About Me” but never released it. Ultimately, the tune became a smash for the late country great.