“He didn’t have to give birth to me – because he chose to love and raise me as his own.” For the first time, Shelley Covel Rowland – Toby Keith’s stepdaughter – shares about the second father in her life. A quiet, reserved man, but always there. Not loud, not demanding – simply always there. There is a song that tells about family love that doesn’t need to be related by blood: “Heart to Heart” – an emotional dialogue between a father and the child he chose to be his. 👉 If you have ever been the “chosen one”, or have ever opened your arms like a father, this song is for you.

Introduction

“Heart to Heart (Stelen’s Song)” is a deeply moving ballad penned and performed by American country star Toby Keith. Originally released in 1999 on his debut album Toby Keith, the song was later revisited in 2021 as a tribute to his son, Stelen Covel—both versions sharing the same title yet serving different emotional purposes .

The 1999 version, a tender father‑to‑son musing, unfolds over acoustic guitar and gentle steel‑guitar touches. Keith’s warm delivery narrates the small, everyday moments of parenthood—cleaning up spilled orange juice, standing “face to face” when discipline is needed, and sharing simple joys like laughter and tears. The refrain, “But when he cries she’ll match him tear for tear… I’m watching God’s love grow heart to heart,” emphasizes the nurturing nature of parental love .

Though never released as a single, this heartfelt song has resonated deeply with fans of blended families and adoptive parenthood. Its honest, intimate tone presents fatherhood not as a role defined by blood, but by devotion, presence, and daily acts of love .

The 2021 rendition, subtitled “Stelen’s Song,” transforms the piece into a tribute to Toby’s son Stelen—who, tragically, passed away in 2024—imbuing the track with new layers of meaning and grief. This version reflects not only pride in fatherhood but also the pain of loss and the enduring bond between parent and child.

Across both incarnations, “Heart to Heart” highlights Toby Keith’s gift as a songwriter: the ability to distill profound emotion into everyday moments. What begins as a simple lullaby about family turns into a universal hymn to love, memory, and legacy—revealing the lasting truth that the heart-to-heart connections we nurture shape us forever.

Video

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I watched him throw his oatmeal bowl
Halfway across the kitchen floor
His momma said don’t let me see you do that anymore
And he let loose with a cup of orange juice
Right down the back of her dress
Without a doubt she lined him out
Then cleaned up the mess
Now he is just a chip off of the old block
Just like me we keep her on her toes a lot[Chorus]
But when he cries she’ll match him tear for tear
When he laughs she’ll grin from ear to ear
When he’s wrong they’ll stand there face to face
She can put him in his place
Side by side and hand in hand
She’ll talk with daddy’s little man
He knows that she’s done her part
I’m watching God’s love grow
Heart to heart[Verse 2]
He’ll grow to be six foot three
Yeah he’s going to be just like me
He’ll be tall and play football
But he’ll always be a momma’s boy

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[Chorus]
And when he cries she’ll match him tear for tear
When he laughs she’ll grin from ear to ear
When he’s wrong they’ll stand there face to face
She can put him in his place
Side by side and hand in hand
She’ll talk with daddy’s little man
He knows that she’s done her part
I’m watching God’s love grow
Heart to heart