Toby Keith brought Skip Wells' mom on stage during Atlanta...

Toby Keith brought a special guest on stage at the end of his Thursday night concert in Atlanta: Cathy Wells, mother of 21-year-old Marine Lance Cpl. Skip Wells, who was killed during the Chattanooga shootings earlier this month.

Cathy joined Keith during his encore at Lakewood Amphitheatre, between his songs "American Soldier" and "Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue." She was enthusiastically received by the crowd of 15,000-plus.

She wore a T-shirt with a picture of Skip in his uniform above the phrase "My Hero" — which she has worn to several ceremonies for Skip — and was surrounded by several others, apparently relatives and friends, as Keith spoke a few words about the "tragedy" that took her son's life.

Following the song, Keith spoke with Cathy and they embraced.

"Never apologize for being patriotic," he told the crowd as everyone cheered.

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