Country star Aaron Tippin is honoring military families ahead of America’s historic 250th birthday.
During an interview with Fox News Digital, Tippin — who is hosting an Independence Day celebration in honor of America’s 250th birthday in Fort Campbell, Kentucky — took a moment to speak about the toll that serving in the military has on the families who stay back home.
“I wish they understood more about the sacrifice that the family makes. They don’t get deployed. And man, they’re just home wringing their hands, thinking about somebody who’s out committed to the freedom of this nation and just praying to God that they come home safe,” he began.
DISNEY AND USHA VANCE TEAM UP TO HONOR MILITARY FAMILIES AND SURPRISE THEM WITH MAGICAL GIFTS
Tippin continued, “I think that’s something that needs a lot of respect and a lot of attention.”
The artist shared that he has military service members come up to him after his shows quite often.
“It happens every single night. I mean, I’ll be in the autograph line signing autographs and somebody comes up to me and says, ‘Hey, Aaron, pulls out a picture, says, last time I saw you, we were in Afghanistan. We were in Iraq.’ Or, you know, it goes all the way back to the Bob Hope days with him to Saudi Arabia to entertain the troops in the Persian Gulf,” he began.
WATCH: Aaron Tippin wished more Americans understood the ‘sacrifice’ military families make
“So every single of my career, I hook up with somebody that I saw on the battlefield. So. It’s always rewarding to see them home and safe and give them a big hug and thank them one more time,” Tippin continued.
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For this Fourth of July celebration, Tippin will be honoring Charlie Daniels during an Independence Day celebration in Kentucky. During the celebration, a state-of-the art-Charlie Daniels hologram will be displayed.
“I can’t believe I got the chance to be on this. Of course, it’s supporting one of my heroes in the music biz and in life, Charlie Daniels, the legend of Charlie Daniels,” Tippin began.
“He was just an awesome guy. I’m proud to say, you know, me and him kind of had the same plan of entertaining the troops, going down range on the battlefield and entertaining our guys and gals,” he continued. “He did a lot of that. I did a lot of that with the same lady that would take him down range Judy Seals of Stars for Stripes. And so it’s a great pleasure for me to be once again supporting the military.”
WATCH: Aaron Tippin talks hosting an Independence Day celebration honoring Charlie Daniels
Tippin has always been outspoken about patriotism. Speaking to Fox News Digital, he explained that his father instilled those values in him at a young age.
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“Well, I first started in country music, and my dad made me a patriot. My dad was an Air Force flight instructor when I was born, and he believed in the military and their service,” he shared. “That’s kind of where I got it. My career kicked off and got me on the Bob Hope show Christmas in 1990, entertaining the troops, a little song called ‘You Got To Stand For Something,’ so that’s where it started with me.”
Tippin explained that patriotism was strong “in those days,” adding that the 9/11 terrorist attacks renewed patriotism in America, according to the country star.
“At the time, we had a song called, ‘Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly,’ and I think that, right now, I’ll take it today, I think patriotism is very strong in America, and boy, I’m just proud to speak on it,” Tippin concluded.
