Toby Keith’s Children: What His 3 Kids Are Doing Now After His Passing (Updated 2025)
The legacy of country music icon Toby Keith continues to live on through his family, especially his three children: Shelley Covel Rowland, Krystal Keith, and Stelen Keith Covel. Following the singer's peaceful passing in February 2024 after a battle with stomach cancer, the public's interest in the Covel family has grown, eager to see how his children are carrying on his spirit and monumental impact on the industry and beyond. The latest updates as of late 2025 show the siblings navigating their personal lives and professional paths while collectively honoring their father's memory.
This article provides the most current and in-depth look at Toby Keith’s adult children, detailing their individual lives, careers, and their collective efforts to keep the "Big Dog Daddy's" memory alive in the country music world. From a rare joint public appearance to a new addition to the family, the Covel children are forging their own paths while celebrating the foundation their father built.
Meet the Covel Family: A Complete Biography of Toby Keith's Children
Toby Keith, whose full name was Toby Keith Covel, and his wife, Tricia Lucus Covel, raised three children together, forming a tight-knit family unit. Their lives span different professional fields, yet they remain united in preserving their father's memory and celebrating his enduring country music legacy.
Shelley Covel Rowland
- Relationship to Toby Keith: Eldest daughter, adopted by Toby Keith at age three.
- Date of Birth: October 1980.
- Career/Profession: Reportedly works as a designer.
- Family Life: Married to Ryan Rowland. She prefers to maintain a private life away from the public eye.
- Grandchildren Status: She has at least one child, making Toby Keith a grandfather.
Krystal Keith (Krystal Ladawn Covel Sandubrae)
- Relationship to Toby Keith: Daughter.
- Date of Birth: September 30, 1985.
- Career/Profession: American country music singer and songwriter. She is the only one of the three children to follow directly in her father's musical footsteps.
- Key Collaborations: Collaborated with her father on a cover of "Mockingbird" in 2004.
- Family Life: Married to Andrew Sandubrae. She is a mother and took a hiatus from music to welcome her first child.
Stelen Keith Covel
- Relationship to Toby Keith: Son, and youngest child.
- Date of Birth: 1997 (Approximate, based on birth order).
- Career/Profession: Has chosen a career path outside of the music industry.
- Family Life: Married to Haley Covel.
- Grandchildren Status: Recently welcomed his first child, Millie, in 2024, which is Toby Keith's fourth grandchild.
The Powerful 2024 CMT Awards Tribute and Rare Family Appearance
Just two months after Toby Keith's death in February 2024, his three children made a significant and rare joint public appearance at the CMT Music Awards on April 7, 2024. This red carpet moment was a powerful display of family unity and a moving tribute to their late father.
The siblings—Shelley Covel Rowland, Krystal Keith, and Stelen Keith Covel—were there to represent the family as Toby Keith was honored during the ceremony. Their presence underscored the deep connection they shared with the country music community and the enduring impact of his music. The appearance was a fresh, poignant moment for fans who rarely see the three siblings together in the spotlight.
The tribute segment was a highlight of the evening, featuring performances and heartfelt messages that cemented Toby Keith's status as a legend. For the children, attending the CMT Awards was a public way to collectively honor the man who was not only a superstar but also a devoted husband to Tricia Covel and a loving father.
Krystal Keith: Carrying the Country Music Torch
Of the three Covel children, Krystal Keith is the one who has most actively pursued a career in the country music industry. Her journey, however, was guided by her father's practical advice. Toby Keith insisted that Krystal pursue a college education before fully committing to her music career, a testament to his grounded approach to life and business.
Krystal is an accomplished singer and songwriter, building on the solid foundation of her early collaborations and her acclaimed work with her father's label, Show Dog Nashville. She has released her own music, showcasing a powerful voice and a deep connection to the genre her father dominated for decades.
In 2025, Krystal continues to honor her father's legacy by performing and participating in events that celebrate his life and music. Her commitment ensures that the "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" spirit remains vibrant within the next generation of country artists. Her continued presence in the industry is a beautiful continuation of the Covel family's musical influence.
Stelen Covel’s New Chapter: A Growing Family Legacy
While Krystal carries the musical torch, Toby Keith's son, Stelen Keith Covel, has focused his efforts on a different career path and, more recently, on his growing family. Unlike his sister, Stelen has maintained a career outside the public-facing world of entertainment.
A major and heartwarming update for the Covel family in 2024 was the birth of Stelen's first child, a baby girl named Millie, whom he welcomed with his wife, Haley Covel. This new addition marks a significant moment, as Millie is the fourth grandchild for the late country star and his wife, Tricia Covel.
The arrival of a new generation underscores the enduring family legacy that Toby Keith built, one that extends far beyond the stage lights. Stelen's focus on his personal and professional life, away from the country music spotlight, shows the varied interests within the family, all while honoring the values instilled by their parents. This new chapter for Stelen and Haley Covel brings a sense of renewal and continuation to the Covel family story.
Shelley Covel Rowland: The Private Life of the Eldest
Shelley Covel Rowland, the eldest of the three siblings, has consistently chosen a life of privacy, a stark contrast to her famous father and sister. Adopted by Toby Keith when she was only three years old, she was fully embraced and raised as his own daughter, a detail that highlights the strength of the Covel family bond.
Shelley is known to work as a designer and is married to Ryan Rowland, maintaining a life largely out of the celebrity spotlight. Her decision to pursue a career and family life away from the public gaze is respected by the Covel family and the broader community. While she may not be performing on stage, her presence at the 2024 CMT Awards alongside her siblings was a powerful, rare moment that demonstrated her commitment to honoring her father’s memory.
The Covel children's diverse paths—from Krystal's music career to Stelen's new family chapter and Shelley's private life—all contribute to the rich, multifaceted legacy of Toby Keith. They are a testament to the family values and grounded perspective the country star maintained throughout his life, proving that the Covel family's influence continues to grow and evolve.
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