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title: Stephen Colbert Covers Toby Keith Song As Good As I Once Was: Video
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# And Then Here's Stephen Colbert Covering a Toby Keith Song

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## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ

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| Metric | Value | Source |
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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/PNJDP9f3.m3u8" -->
## Video: The Best of Stephen Colbert

[Watch (HLS stream): The Best of Stephen Colbert](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/PNJDP9f3.m3u8) (4:30)

![The Best of Stephen Colbert](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/PNJDP9f3/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2014-04-10. The next host of_


by 

[Samantha Grossman](https://time.com/author/samantha-grossman/)


## Samantha Grossman


Jun 19, 2015 7:24 PM UTC

by 

[Samantha Grossman](https://time.com/author/samantha-grossman/)


## Samantha Grossman


Jun 19, 2015 7:24 PM UTC

For some reason, Stephen Colbert made a surprise appearance at the 46th annual Songwriter Hall Of Fame awards dinner Thursday night, where he inducted country icon Toby Keith.

To honor the singer, Colbert did a little performance of his own, covering “As Good As I Once Was.” Decked out in a denim jacket and a black cowboy hat, Colbert busted out his best twangy singing, backed by a full band.

This all may seem pretty unexpected, but Keith has [appeared ](http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/s2ax4o/toby-keith)on Colbert’s show [several times ](http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/ozfwje/toby-keith)over the years, so it’s entirely possible they’ve become pals.

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