See Toby Keith's last studio session as he sings Joe Diffie's 'Ships That Don't Come In'

Following the television premiere of the concert special "Toby Keith: American Icon," a music video of the late Oklahoma superstar's final studio recording has debuted online.

The moving video documents Keith covering the late Joe Diffie's 1992 ballad "Ships That Don't Come In," along with even-time Grammy nominee Luke Combs.

The newly released video is similar to footage included in the "Toby Keith: American Icon" special, which is streaming on Peacock following its Aug. 28 premiere on NBC.

Recorded July 29 in front of a sold-out audience at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena, the two-hour televised concert "Toby Keith: American Icon" salutes the Norman-based superstar who died Feb. 5 at age 62 after a multiyear battle with stomach cancer.

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Keith's daughter, Krystal Keith, told The Oklahoman that the show's producers surprised everyone with footage of her father's final studio recording session just before her sister, Shelley Covel Rowland, introduced her performance at the July 29 concert. A fellow Norman-based singer-songwriter, Krystal Keith crooned the emotional ode "Don't Let the Old Man In" on the special.

"They did not warn us ... they played that right before my sister had to talk, and I was over ready to go on stage," she said. "We're both crying right as we're both having to walk out on stage. So, I think it was like a connective, 'Oh crap, we both have to do this.' But we had each other the whole night ... and really got to enjoy it together and be in that moment together."

What tribute project features Toby Keith's heartfelt cover of 'Ships That Don't Come In?'

Keith recorded the new cover of "Ships That Don't Come In" for hitmaking singer-songwriter Hardy's new all-star collaborative album "Hixtape Vol. 3: Difftape."

In March, Hardy released the third installation of "Hixtape" country music collaborations series. It's a 17-track tribute to Diffie, the Grammy-winning Tulsa native who died March 29, 2020, of COVID-19 complications at the age of 61.

The cover also features vocals from Combs as well as previously unheard vocals from Diffie.

"To be on a song with Toby was a no-brainer when it got presented to me. That was something I had always hoped to do but never knew if it would happen or not," Combs said in a statement.

"It being one of Joe's songs, especially this one, made it even better; he was there the night I got inducted into the Opry and actually gave me my Opry member award. I grew up listening to both of those guys' music, so to be a part of this version of the song and it now be Toby's last recording is kind of hard to put into words. Country music misses them greatly, but I hope we're doing justice to continue what they started."

A 1977 Velma-Alma High School graduate, Diffie rose to country music stardom in the 1990s with a string of hits including “John Deere Green,” “Pickup Man,” “Third Rock From The Sun,” “If The Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets),” “New Way (To Light Up An Old Flame),” “Bigger Than The Beatles,” "Home," “Honky Tonk Attitude,” “So Help Me Girl,” “Texas Size Heartache" and "Is It Cold in Here."

In partnership with Diffie's estate, Hardy's latest "Difftape" uses never-before-heard 2006 master recordings of Diffie’s greatest hits in tandem with new recordings from more than 30 music stars, including fellow Oklahoma natives Blake Shelton and Reba McEntire, Country Music Hall of Fame duo Brooks & Dunn, Lainey Wilson, Darius Rucker, Post Malone, Morgan Wallen and more.

Oklahoma country music stars Toby Keith and Joe Diffie shared close family ties

Along with Hardy, "Toby Keith: American Icon" features performances by Fellow Oklahoma superstar Carrie Underwood and country hitmakers Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Ashley McBryde, Jelly Roll, Darius Rucker, Wilson and more.

To Krystal Keith, it was fitting for footage of her father covering a Diffie ballad also was included.

"That was really special. Joe's dad was actually a bus driver for my dad for years, and his mom and dad would babysit us when we were kids out on the road. My dad would take us out on the road, and so that my mom could watch the show ... Joe Diffie's mom would keep us entertained on the bus," she said.

"We definitely go way back with the Diffie family, and I know that my dad really respected Joe and loved his family. I think it was maybe just a little bit kismet that that happened ... to be his last studio session."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: After 'American Icon' special, see Toby Keith croon Joe Diffie ballad