Toby Keith a Front-Line Performer

Toby Keith photo courtesy of Show Dog Nashville.

June 22, 2009 — Toby Keith is near the front of the line on all the lists of the biggest country stars of this era, but he’s also on the front line when it comes to working with America’s troops. He recently returned from his seventh visit to play for soldiers in the field in the Middle East, where he gave shows for some of the G.I.s at remote Forward Operating Bases.

But it wasn’t always quite that way. On his first two trips overseas, he had no interest in taking a risk that would put him in those outposts. He had a change of heart after seeing how effective American troops can be.

"After two or three years of watching our military work the way it does, I finally figured out [that] these guys are really, really good at what they do," he told The Cleveland Plain Dealer. "I would go to the end of the world for them. My point is these people have an uncommon valor. They get their tour done, then they stand right there and re-enlist. They do that over and over. There's an endless supply of people that have the desire to do that job, and I tip my hat to them."

Toby has given more than 140 performances in Iraq and Afghanistan, including one that was cut short in 2008 when the base was targetted by mortar fire.

As his song "Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue (The Angry American)" rather famously noted, Toby’s father lost his right eye in the service. He’s inherited his dad’s disposition about the military.

"The only person that could knock on his door and not aggravate him was some type of veterans organization," Toby said. "He always said the Army made him a strong man and more of a gentleman and more of a grown person. I guess I always had that respect."

Other country acts who’ve visited Iraq and Afghanistan since the beginning of 2008 include Kix Brooks, Joe Nichols and Aaron Tippin.