Aaron Tippin Returns From His 10th Trip Overseas

Aaron Tippin is back home in Tennessee for Christmas after spending Thanksgiving in Afghanistan, as part of a 10-day tour there.

He traveled with Stars for Stripes, a nonprofit organization.

"Once again, our guys and gals have demonstrated that they are the best and most professional warriors on the face of the planet!"

After his performance at Forward Operating Base Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, Tippin performed push-ups as members of the 2nd Squadron, 38th Cavalry Regiment, applied the honorary spurs to his boots. A tradition within the Army Cavalry, spurs are given to soldiers within the unit who have been to combat. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Corey Sparks.)

Did you know that it all started 21 years ago with Bob Hope? Aaron is the 1st country entertainer to travel with Bob Hope to the Persian Gulf to entertain our troops back in 1991. Tippin performed his famous song, “You’ve Got to Stand for Something.”

Toby Keith on his Ninth USO Tour

Credit: facebook.com/catcountry1029

Toby Keith is on his ninth USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour. "My father was a veteran, and [in 2002] I wanted to go pay my respects and honor all the troops that were overseas fighting in different conflicts," Toby tells The Boot of his very first Middle East tour. "I got over there and fell in love with it. It's become part of my life now."


Since that first trip, Toby has played for more than 159,000 troops and their families. He'll add to that number on a 12-day USO tour covering three countries (with exact dates and locations kept secret for security reasons).


"It's a wonderful geography lesson. It's a wonderful history lesson. Not to mention getting to shake hands with heroes every single day you're over there," says Toby. "It also allows me to be the poster boy for the USO ... to get other entertainers and people who have something to offer to go over there and support our troops. That's the least I could do."