🎶 Toby Keith did not flinch when a lawsuit tried to take the song that built his brand.
In December 2006, a copyright claim landed on one of the most recognizable anthems in country music. Michael McCloud, a Key West singer who often performed at the Schooner Wharf Bar, filed the case in Miami. He accused Keith and his frequent writing partner Scotty Emerick of lifting the lyrics, rhythm, and melody of “I Love This Bar” from his 1999 song “Tourist Town Bar”.
The stakes were enormous. The 2003 single had held Number One for five weeks and had become the beating heart of Keith’s growing I Love This Bar and Grill empire, stretching from Oklahoma to Las Vegas. For many artists, a multimillion dollar target invites quiet settlement. Keith chose a harder road.
He felt accused of stealing not just money but meaning. The song honored ordinary bars, tired workers, Friday nights, and small town pride. To him, the claim attacked the honesty of his pen and the people who sang along.
McCloud reportedly boasted that the lawsuit would make him rich enough for a comfortable retirement, a house, a new car, a big boat, and a Harvard education for his children. Keith stayed silent during the case because his legal team advised him to do so. Behind the scenes, his attorneys dismantled the claim.
Depositions showed that “I Love This Bar” had already existed and had been publicly performed before Keith or Emerick could have accessed McCloud’s song. The defense also argued that the alleged similarities were neither unique nor original. Facing summary judgment and possible sanctions, McCloud agreed to drop the case.
In late 2007, a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice, meaning it could never be filed again. Keith then spoke with fire.
“I didn’t pay him or his lawyers a thing,” Keith said.
For him, the victory was personal. He said he might not always be a performer, but he would always be a songwriter. He refused to let a baseless accusation stain a song that belonged to his fans. By standing his ground, Keith protected his truth and sent a message to opportunistic claims targeting working class creativity.
Today the courtroom drama is a footnote. The anthem still rings from jukeboxes, bars, and living rooms. It remains a reminder that some songs are worth more than a settlement, because they carry a writer’s name, his honor, and his people.