Toby Keith to play tribute to Merle Haggard at ACC Awards

INGLEWOOD, Calif., April 22 (UPI) -- Toby Keith will perform a tribute to the late Merle Haggard, who died April 6, at this year's American Country Countdown Awards.

The country singer will partner with Haggard's former band, the Strangers, for the performance, which will air live on Fox from the California awards ceremony on May 1.

Actor and Texas native Matthew McConaughey will introduce the tribute while Haggard's widow, Theresa, and her family will be in attendance at the show. Haggard's son Ben will perform with the Strangers, Fox announced.

Toby Keith is a lifelong fan of Haggard's, and performed alongside him on several occasions, Rolling Stone noted. The late country icon died after battling pneumonia on April 6; soon afterwards, Keith tweeted, "The greatest singer and songwriter of my lifetime is gone."