On Tour with Toby Keith: Danger, Excitement, Gratitude

American Forces Press Service ^

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2009 – Country music megastar Toby Keith has performed for rowdy, appreciative troops more than 130 times over seven straight years. But during this year’s “America’s Toughest Tour,” he said, “The boys and girls were rockin' and laughin' like never before.”

Country music megastar Toby Keith started his seventh USO tour in Afghanistan April 21, 2009, and has been putting on shows at a series of remote forward operating bases, most of which haven't had any outside entertainment come through in six months. Here, Keith entertains Marines at FOB #2 in Bakwa. Looking over his shoulder, graphically depicted on an American flag, is movie legend John Wayne. At left is Scotty Emerick, a fellow performer and regular on the Toby Keith tours. USO photo by Dave Gatley  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Keith set out on his latest tour, sponsored by the USO and Armed Forces Entertainment, from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., April 21. His goals: meet as many troops and perform at as many remote bases as possible. The “FOB-hopping” trip took the performers to within six miles of the Pakistan border.

As he sat aboard an Air Force C-17 preparing for departure from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Keith took time to write a message for American Forces Press Service and the USO to share with servicemembers around the world.

Written in blog style, Keith’s message starts out with a tally of the hectic schedule of shows at forward operating bases and combat outposts in Afghanistan, reveals he’s written a new military-themed song, and shares his impressions of the tour:

“5 Days: 15 shows completed in Afghanistan -- 13 FOBs/2 COPs. The boys and girls were rockin' and laughin' like never before. This being my 7th year and 130+ shows, I've never seen them as energetic. That being said, The danger factor was at an all time high.

“Not since my early trips to Iraq have we been escorted in by gunships as often as we were on this visit. Thank you Cobra's and Apache's. Thanks to all our bird teams for the rides.

“I also wrote a new military song for this visit. It's called "The Ballad of Balad." Funny song about an Army recruiter. It made hard core crusted jaded FOB Sgt. Majors laugh out loud. I love it.

“I have tons of info to report back back home to the press. And as always, it's all good here. The U.S. military and their commanders are in complete control like always. 'Nuff said!

“I will close for now as this damn C-17 is shaking my penmanship somethin' fierce as we're leavin' Bagram.

“Mission accomplished Team USO – USA.”

Visitors to DefenseLINK, the Defense Department’s official Web site, can get more of the inside story from the tour. In a daily blog, Amy K. Mitchell, USO’s vice president for publications, chronicles the tour’s sights and sounds in a DefenseLINK Special Report.

Related Sites:
Special Report: Toby Keith, “America’s Toughest Tour 2009”
Photo Essay: Part I - Toby Keith Entertains Troops in Afghanistan
Photo Essay: Part II - Toby Keith Entertains Troops in Afghanistan

[SandRat]

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[Monkey Face]

Awesome stuff! Keep it coming!

[Crimson Elephant]

Didn’t he become a Bambi voter? Or am I confused?

[fanfan]

What a super guy!

Maybe I should buy a CD or two.

[Monkey Face]

Get one for me, too! He’s awesome!

[Pentagon Leatherneck]

“Didn’t he become a Bambi voter? Or am I confused?”

Shirley, you jest.

TC

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

I thought so, also - he came out in support of Obama, right?

[dennisw]

Tobi Keith visited 0bomo at the White House last week....so I read

[dennisw]

Toby Keith Praises Obama, Says He's A Democrat LOS ANGELES — Barack Obama is getting praise from Nashville, courtesy of one big, patriotic country star. Toby Keith, perhaps best known to ... www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/19/toby-keith-praises-obama_n_119930.html - 205k - Cached - Similar pages -

[EAGLE7]

No you’re not confused. While he seems like a good guy and I do enjoy his music, I can’t for the life of me understand his support for a socialist like Obama.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Good for toby!

Toby Keith, Sara Evans, and Brad Paisley are my top 3 country artists.

[saganite]

I remember an interview by Toby where he said Iraq was a lost cause. I never liked his music anyway.

[saganite]

Toby Keith Brad Paisly and Sara Evans can’t hold a candle to true country music talent. Nashville clones, that’s all they are.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

You’re telling me you don’t like Suds in a Bucket?

[Alberta's Child]

I hear ya. Toby Keith ain’t no George Strait — that’s fer sure!

[saganite]

Johnny Cash, Buck Owens, Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yoakam, George Strait, Sammy Kershaw, Vince Gill. Did they sing Suds in a Bucket? Must’ve missed it.

[NCCarrs]

He’s a big, dumb redneck who’s grabbin’ the cash => I don’t think he expressed outright support for 50/50, but he said he thought he had good ideas. He recently traveled to WH:

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/politics/ny-usobama0428,0,4028894.story

I don’t buy his neo-patriot schtick => just another sack of turd entertainer.

[chiefqc]

Says a lot about the empty suit and a country singer.

Empty Suit with troops - Staged phony photo-op

Country Singer with troops - Great and real crowd reaction.

Does that tell the voters something about this empty suit figurehead crotch playing, bowing TOTUS?

[goat granny]

I had read where he had been a life long democrat, but changed to Independent bases on what the democrats in congress have been saying for the last couple of years. In a TV interview he stated he thought the war in Afghanistan was justified but only time would tell on Iraq...No matter what, he supports the troops 100% and backs it up with entertaining them...his father was a vet..