TobyMac continues to hold onto a treasured memory of the final words he exchanged with his late son, Truett, before his untimely passing in 2019.
The Christian music star recently opened up about the heartfelt text his son sent him before dying from an accidental drug overdose at age 21. Speaking to PEOPLE, TobyMac recalled attending Truett’s first concert at The Factory in Franklin, Tennessee, where his son had performed as an aspiring rapper.
“I told him I thought he did a great job at his first concert,” TobyMac shared. “I even changed my flight to make sure I could be there.”
The final message from Truett deeply impacted the singer. “The last text he sent me, I don’t know why this moves me so much, but he’s like, ‘Dad, you’ve always made me feel like a superhero,'” TobyMac, 60, revealed. “That moved me to my core because that’s exactly how you should make your kid feel.”
Reflecting on his late son’s personality, the “Faithfully” singer described Truett as “absolute life” and “the biggest personality in our family.” He fondly remembered his son’s grateful nature and close relationship with their family.
“He always saw us, never discounted us,” TobyMac recalled. “I’m so grateful for that. There wasn’t a distant relationship. Sure, we had rubs. He was a wild child… but God loves the wild ones, and I believe that with all my heart.”
The emotional journey of grieving his son has been deeply woven into TobyMac’s music. His latest album, Heaven on My Mind, released on March 7, reflects his path through grief and healing.
“It’s walking through this and getting to a point where you can breathe again and live again,” TobyMac explained. “Still grieving deeply, but finding the strength to raise your fist in the air and say, ‘I’m going to live. I’m going to live to honor God… and to believe, but also to honor my son.'”
This new album follows his 2022 LP Life After Death, where TobyMac first poured his heart out about the pain he endured after Truett’s death.
“The pain and anguish was just killing us,” he previously shared. “I never thought I would ever have it together again. But writing songs that resonate has allowed me to connect with others going through loss. It’s amazing how music can love people wherever they are, and I’m so grateful for that.”
Days after Truett’s passing in 2019, TobyMac penned a heartfelt tribute, describing his son as a “magnetic” and joyful spirit who never failed to leave a mark on those he met.
“Truett Foster McKeehan had joy that took the room when he entered,” he wrote. “He had an untamable grand personality and dreams to match. And he hated being put in a box.”
As TobyMac continues to share his grief and healing journey, his dedication to honoring his son’s memory remains unwavering.
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