Toby Keith and Rodney Atkins Salute the Troops This Veterans Day Weekend!

This Veteran's Day weekend, we remember the troops who have served to protect the United States. No format of music consistently honors those who serve as much as country music, and that's evident with stars like Toby Keith and Rodney Atkins who regularly perform for the troops overseas. Toby has played nearly 200 shows for the troops overseas since he started his yearly tours with the U.S.O. more than a decade ago. He began doing the tours in honor of his veteran father. Says Toby, "I just kind of went and I got there and saw the void that was there and the U.S.O. was like, 'Man, any time you want to come back, we'll take you.'" Toby has been back every year since and often goes out to entertain troops on very remote bases. Even seeing a helicopter is a big deal to these troops who may be deployed out there for 18 months.
"It's like, 'Something's coming out here to see us.'" Toby says. "There may be 25 guys out in the middle of nowhere." Toby plans to continue making the trips as long as he can, and he says, "I'm honored to do it. It's great boys and girls, and thank God we have 'em over there." Rodney Atkins can speak firsthand to the intense work the troops put in every day to defend America's freedom. Looking back on one of his tours entertaining the troops in Afghanistan, Rodney recalls getting up in the middle of the night and seeing a soldier doing intense physical training in the freezing rain. Rodney says, "He was carrying sandbags, like 200 pound sandbags and throwing them down and then he’d pick them back up in the freezing rain.  He’d walk twenty five yards, whatever, throw it down, pick it back up. " Rodney walked over to the soldier and asked him if he had been ordered to do this training. The soldier told him no one ordered him to get up at 3 a.m.
Rodney recalls him saying, "I’m doing this because I never know when I’m gonna have to carry one of my brothers or sisters back through the gates of hell.'" When he heard that, Rodney realized he had nothing to complain about at all in his life. He says, "It’s just amazing what they go through.  Keep the men and women in your prayers."

Country Stars React to the Death of Andy Griffith

BRAD PAISLEY worked with ANDY GRIFFITH directly, but lots of Country stars were moved to comment on his passing on Tuesday.  Here's what Brad and few others had to say on Twitter.

Brad:  "Andy Griffith entertained the world.  He improved our lives, and I was so proud to work with him call him a friend.  Love you Andy.  Go rest."

SCOTTY MCCREERY:  "RIP Andy Griffith.  We lost a legend today that provided me and my family some great quality time around the TV filled with some good laughs."

HILLARY SCOTT:  "Heaven gained a talented man today.  Mr. Andy Griffith, thanks for giving me amazing memories with my family growing up watching your show!"

CHRIS YOUNG:  "Andy Griffith made so many memories for multiple generations . . . R.I.P."

RODNEY ATKINS:  "Rest In Peace Andy Griffith.  Praying for his family, friends and fans."

THE BAND PERRY:  "We'll miss you, Andy Griffith . . . thank you for all the laughs and memories."

Rodney Atkins Beats Domestic Assault Charge from Last November!!

Rodney Atkins has avoided jail time stemming from his November 21 arrest for an alleged domestic assault with his soon-to-be ex-wife Tammy Jo. She claimed he tried to smother her with a pillow during an alcohol-fueled fight and then threw her down a hallway. Atkins denied those charges and filed for divorce after being released from jail on $2,500 bond. According to The Tennessean, Rodney went through court-ordered assessments for anger management, alcohol and drug use and passed each one. A Williamson County, TN judge officially retired the charges against Atkins, and they will be expunged from his record. Atkins released a statement exclusively to The Tennessean saying, "I am so thankful for all those that chose to withhold judgment while keeping my family and I in their prayers,” Atkins said. “God Bless. Onward and upward.”

Rodney Atkins Is Finally Opening Up About Reuniting With His Birth Mother.

Two pivotal moments in RODNEY ATKINS' life happened in 2008. He became the spokesman for the National Council for Adoption and he decided to search for his birth mother. (His birth mother got pregnant at 19, and, until recently, managed to hide the entire pregnancy from her family. She gave Rodney up for adoption when he was an infant. For privacy reasons he refuses to reveal her name.) Once Rodney decided to go for it, it didn't take long to locate his birth mom. Good thing, because it sounds like it was eating him up. He told Pollstar.com, quote, "I needed to close that door. "But I also just wanted to tell her thank you, because she had some other alternatives to end that situation. I'm glad I did that really, really, really for her."(--The alternative he's referring to is, of course, abortion.) Rodney's birth mother has been living her entire adult life not knowing anything about her child. He explains, quote, "She's been carrying that around, wondering what happened, and I could tell it was such a relief. "She kept saying, 'I'm sorry.' I kept saying, 'Thank you.'" Rodney's birth mom eventually married and had another son. And after she reunited with Rodney, she finally told HER mother about the secret. Rodney says, quote, "She had to tell her after all these years, 'You have another grandson that I never told you about.' I can't imagine what she's been carrying."

Rodney Atkins Follows Garth Brooks’ ‘Genuine’ Example.

Rodney Atkins makes it a point to always spend time signing autographs, posing for photographs, playing charity events and otherwise reaching out to his fans. Now that the title track of Atkins’ October 4 release, ‘Take a Back Road,’ has become his fastest rising single ever, don’t expect any of that to change. He points to one of his musical idols, Garth Brooks, as an example he will continue to follow.

Read The Rest Of The Story Here!

(Taste Of Country)

Music Video Of The Day: Rodney Atkins - Farmers Daughter