Country music star Kellie Pickler received the Operation Troop Aid Chris Kyle Patriot Award Saturday for her work visiting and entertaining U.S. troops around the world.
The honor, previously named the Operation Troop Aid Patriot Award, was renamed in honor of Kyle, the late Navy SEAL sniper whose memoir "American Sniper" became an Academy Award-nominated movie and box office smash,
according to The Tennessean.
"I'm so honored," Pickler said of the award. "It's going to be a special night, but it's not about me. It's about Chris, his family, and every service member and veteran. I'm just there to shine a light on something that matters."
Kyle's parents, Wayne and Deby Kyle, helped present the award to Pickler during the Country Music Association Festival in Nashville on Saturday.
"I like to say, 'If you don't wanna stand behind our military by all means stand in front,'" said Pickler.
According to Taste of Country.com, Wayne and Deby Kyle said they decided to get involved with the award to bring awareness to the troops.
"We are not celebrities and we don't want to be," said Wayne Kyle. "Most people don't know who we are and we prefer it that way."
Wayne Kyle said his son did not like being in the spotlight, as well, but cared about his fellow troops. He said he and his wife wanted to meet and thank country music stars who support the military.
Pickler has entertained troops over eight USO tours overseas and designed a t-shirt line this year where the Wounded Warrior Project received the profits,
noted WTVF-TV.
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