Aaron Tippin Leads Country’s Military Parade

Aaron Tippin spent Thanksgiving 2007 with U.S. troops serving in Kuwait and Iraq.

Dec. 4, 2008 — After performing in Iraq on Thanksgiving, Aaron Tippin is back in the U.S. from his fourth tour of military bases in the Middle East.

"It is amazing how well things are going," Aaron says. "Once again, our guys and gals have demonstrated that they are the best and most professional warriors on the face of the planet."

Aaron’s not the only country-related artist who’s connected to American soldiers of late. Among the others:
• Michael Peterson received the USO’s Spirit of Hope Award in October during a ceremony at the Pentagon. He’s scheduled to perform Friday for Gen. George W. Casey in Pennsylvania prior to the annual Army-Navy football game.

• John Michael Montgomery headlined a concert for soldiers last month in Guantanamo Bay. Also on the bill was Edwin McCain, who recorded the first version of the Sara Evans hit "I Could Not Ask For More."

• Kid Rock has taken public offense at a judge’s decision not to apply his upcoming tour of Iraq toward the 80 hours of community service he’s required to perform after pleading guilty to assault at a Waffle House in 2007. "Apparently," he writes on his website, the judge "thinks it's more important that I do something else rather than sing, shake hands, take pictures and spend time with the men and women who put themselves in harm's way to protect the very freedom he and all of us live by."

• The special Trace Adkins: X (Ten) Days, shot during his Middle East tour in September, reairs on GAC on Dec. 11, Dec. 12, Dec. 20 and Dec. 21.