May 5, 2025 — Entertainment Weekly
In a move that has country music fans and documentary lovers buzzing with excitement, Netflix announced today the upcoming release of a groundbreaking new documentary chronicling the legendary career and historic background of country music icon Toby Keith.
Titled “Should’ve Been a Cowboy: The Toby Keith Story,” the documentary is slated for a global premiere on June 28, 2025, and promises an unprecedented look into the life, legacy, and influence of one of America’s most iconic country artists.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker R.J. Cutler (known for Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry), the documentary blends never-before-seen archival footage, intimate interviews, and behind-the-scenes access with Toby Keith, his family, bandmates, and fellow artists. From his humble beginnings in Oklahoma to his rise as a chart-topping artist with hits like “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” and “Beer for My Horses,” the film captures the grit, passion, and patriotic spirit that made Keith a household name.
“This documentary isn’t just about the music — it’s about the man, the myth, and the milestones that defined a generation of country music,” said Cutler during Netflix’s press conference.
The film also explores Keith’s historic contributions beyond music, including his support of U.S. troops, philanthropic work, and his battle with cancer, which he publicly revealed in 2022. Friends and collaborators such as Willie Nelson, Miranda Lambert, and Trace Adkins provide emotional tributes throughout the film, reflecting on Keith’s influence on country music and American culture.
Netflix executives are calling the project one of their “most anticipated musical documentaries to date,” and early screening audiences are already praising it as “moving, patriotic, and deeply human.”
The documentary will be available to stream exclusively on Netflix worldwide, with a special limited theatrical release in select cities ahead of its debut.
