Toby Keith's 2008 album '35 Biggest Hits' tops Billboard 200 chart following his death

Jana Hayes, The Oklahoman
·2 min read
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Toby Keith's ability to top the musical charts didn't stop with his Feb. 5 death, as fans listened to his country hits increasingly over the last week.

One of Keith's albums, which debuted in 2008, "35 Biggest Hits" found itself at the top of the Billboard 200 chart. The album previously peaked at No. 2, making this Keith's fifth No. 1 album on the chart, and his first No. 1 since 2010 when he released "Bullets in the Gun."

Timeline: A look at Toby Keith's storied life from Oklahoma oil fields to climbing charts

Toby Keith's '35 Biggest Hits' album tops Billboard 200 chart

The 2008 album is a compilation of some of Keith's biggest hits, like "Should've Been a Cowboy," "How Do You Like Me Now?!" and "Courtesy of the Red White and Blue (The Angry American)".

It topped the Billboard 200 chart released Feb. 13, replacing fellow country artist Morgan Wallen's "One Thing At A Time." It also surpassed albums like Taylor Swift's "Midnights," which won Album of the Year at the Feb. 4 Grammy's, and SZA's "SOS".

How is the Billboard 200 chart decided?

According to Billboard, the chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. using data compiled by Luminate.

The top albums are measured by album and track sales, as well as audio and video streaming.

Toby Keith takes over Country Digital Song Sales chart

Toby Keith performs at the end of the Oklahoma Twister Relief Concert, benefiting victims of the May tornadoes, at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., Saturday, July 6, 2013. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Toby Keith performs at the end of the Oklahoma Twister Relief Concert, benefiting victims of the May tornadoes, at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., Saturday, July 6, 2013. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

Keith made history by becoming the first artist to claim nine out of 10 spots on the Country Digital Song Sales chart, surpassing the previous record-holders with seven spots: Kenny Rogers (April 4, 2020, following his death) and Taylor Swift (Nov. 13, 2010, thanks to the arrival of her album "Speak Now").

The top song from Keith was "Don't Let the Old Man In," originally released in 2018. He performed it at the 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards, amid his ongoing battle with stomach cancer, where he was awarded the Country Icon award.

The only song in the top 10 not by Keith was Luke Combs' version of "Fast Car," at No. 2, which is up after he performed with its original writer Tracy Chapman at the Feb. 4 Grammy's.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Toby Keith's '35 Biggest Hits' tops Billboard 200 chart