It was Christmas in Afghanistan, as country star Kellie Pickler spent time with the troops and hit the stage to bring the joyful noise.
According to The Washington Post, the "American Idol" finalist and "Dancing With the Stars" winner visited American service members in southern Afghanistan. The singer shook hands, sang songs and thanked the service men and women for their sacrifices.
"If I were an Afghan woman, I would hope someone would help me provide a better life for me and my children," Pickler said about her support for the troop members. .
The Post repoted that the 27-year-old, who wore camouflage leggings and rhinestone boots, joked with service members that she "really wanted to bring [the crowd] some Jack Daniels," and later asked the cowboys in the crowd to raise their hands.
This is the 13th Christmas U.S. troops spent in Afghanistan. Pickler also spent time posing for pictures with troops and visiting wounded troops. The Post noted Pickler, who brought along her license to carry concealed weapons, was given the opportunity to fire a howitzer.
Not every Christmas do you get 2 fist bump a soldier while hanging your feet off the back of a Chinook in Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/nBwNPMnOf7
— kellie pickler (@kelliepickler) December 26, 2013
According to the Post, service members were quite smitten by the singer's appearance.
"She told me I had the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen," Cpl. Clay Beyersdorfer said, according to the Post. "I'm ready to die now."
The feeling was neutral for troop members who had no idea who Pickler was.
"Who is that? She is a very pretty woman. Will she take a picture with me?" Edris Searat, an Afghan interpreter working with the U.S. Air Force, joklngly told the Post.
"There's no place I'd rather spend Christmas," Pickler said.
Despite never serving in the armed forces herself, Pickler said she went through her own version of boot camp, while on "American Idol."
"With American Idol, you develop backward as an artist because it's more like a karaoke show where you're singing cover songs from different genres that don't necessarily fit you as an artist," Pickler told Newsday this year. "It's almost like musical boot camp, but in a good way. You learn quickly about the touring process and the whole recording process."
