It's known as one of the biggest summer music festivals in existence, and one of the performers already slated for the 2011 event promises that Summerfest will live up to its reputation. The 11-day festival, which will be held next year from June 29 to July 3 and July 5 to July 10 in Milwaukee, Wis., announced the first performers for the event: Toby Keith, along with opening act Eric Church, will hit the stage on Friday, July 1, with dozens more superstar acts expected to be announced at a later date.

The historic festival, currently in its 43rd year, has previously played host to a wide variety of musical and comedy guests, including Jay Leno, Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, Bob Hope, James Taylor, Christina Aguilera, Dolly Parton, Eric Clapton, George Carlin and Shania Twain.

Summerfest isn't the only festival Toby will perform at during 2011. The Oklahoma native will travel to Manitoba, Canada, to perform at Dauphin Countryfest on July 1, where he and Eric Church will take the stage alongside Canadian stars Derric Ruttan and George Canyon. After playing at Summerfest, he will head to Country Thunder, where he will join several country stars, including Martina McBride, Jason Aldean and Rascal Flatts.


Toby will turn the big 5-0 only one week after he performs at Summerfest. But the recent ACA winner says he isn't planning on retiring anytime soon. "Age is just a number to me. I'm very grateful and really healthy," he tells The Boot. "I play full court basketball two or three nights a week, and I feel like I did when I was 30."