Country Stars Who Went the Extra Mile for America’s Troops

While many celebrities show support for the military from afar, a select few country music stars have taken that support straight to the front lines, literally. From war zones to overseas bases, these artists didn’t just sing about patriotism, they lived it.

Kellie Pickler, who rose to fame on American Idol, quickly became one of the USO’s most active supporters. She’s completed 11 tours, performing for more than 50,000 troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. Now a USO Global Ambassador, Pickler even donated her Celebrity Family Feud winnings, a cool $25,000, to support veterans’ programs.

Trace Adkins has also made a major impact. With 12 USO tours under his belt, he’s performed for 65,000 service members around the globe, from the Middle East to Europe and Asia. In one memorable gesture, he brought a replica of the Grand Ole Opry stage to a military base overseas. Adkins was later honored with the Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for his dedication to America’s armed forces.

And topping the list is the late Toby Keith, a true icon of patriotic country. Keith completed an incredible 18 USO tours, performing for over 250,000 troops in some of the world’s most dangerous regions. His signature anthem, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue”, was written in honor of his father, a U.S. Army veteran.

For these artists, supporting the troops wasn’t a publicity stunt, it was a mission.