For her efforts on behalf of the troops, Kellie Pickler was awarded with the first Chris Kyle Patriot Award at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville on Saturday. The American Idol alum and Dancing with the Stars winner has entertained military personal on 8 USA tours.
The award, previously known as the Operation Troop Aid Patriot Award, is in honor of Chris Kyle, the Navy Seal at the center of the film, American Sniper.
Kellie was given the award by Chris’ parents, Wayne and Debbie Kyle. Retired navy veteran and Operations Troop Aid founder, Mark Woods, called Kellie “an awesome representation of America.”
When it was announced last month that Kellie was to receive the award, she told RollingStone, “I think it will be by far the most incredible thing I’ve been able to be a part of in my career, absolutely. We have worked with the USO for years and it’s something that means so much to me.
“I just think it’s so important that our servicemen and women and our veterans and their families know that what they do, we don’t take for granted.”
Kellie also performed the National Anthem at LP Field before performers like Brett Eldredge, Little Big Town and Carrie Underwood took the stage.
Via Daily Mail
Kellie talks about the Award in a CMA Fest interview.
