The United Service Organization made history this week with the debut of its World’s Biggest USO Tour – a first-of-its-kind entertainment tour with a star-studded lineup featuring multi-platinum superstar duo Florida Georgia Line.
Livestreamed from D.C.‘s newest concert venue, The Anthem, the event brought the nonprofit’s iconic tour experience to the worldwide stage, paying tribute to service members and military families watching from nearly 90 USO watch parties around the globe.
“Tonight’s event is a new way for the USO to deliver on its mission to connect service members to family, home and country, as we bring together USO centers and performers with this single worldwide event,” said USO Senior Vice President of Brand Advancement Paul Allvin. “What made it all the more special was the talent who donated their time to perform. You cannot do better than Florida Georgia Line, Adam Devine, and Chef Robert Irvine. The whole evening combined to remind us all how connected we really are as Americans, military and civilian alike.”
USO CEO and President J.D. Crouch II opened the evening by welcoming the 800 guests, including senior military leadership, service members and their families, media influencers, USO partners and supporters in attendance at the D.C. concert venue. Attendees were immersed in the iconic tradition of USO entertainment tours, programs and services, while enjoying smash hits from the award-winning duo like current chart-rising single “Simple,” red-hot collaboration with Bebe Rexha “Meant to Be,” which has reigned the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for an unprecendented 41 weeks, and breakout debut “Cruise.” In tribute, FGL took a moment to honor the military community with “Dirt,” as they regularly do during their live show.
“Every single night we give thanks for our service members, and we sing this one for you guys every single show – it’s powerful,” FGL’s Tyler Hubbard told the crowd during the song “Dirt”. “So tonight, as we think about how many people are tuned into this, we want to join forces one more time, not just for the people who serve and wear the uniform but all the others who sacrifice – the wives, the husbands, their families.”
Before the event began, FGL’s Brian Kelley also reflected on what it feels like to perform his first USO entertainment tour.
“There is nowhere else we’d rather be,” Kelley said. “We can feel all of the troops around the world tonight while we are playing. It’s going to be special.”
USO tour veteran, actor-comedian Adam Devine, hosted the evening’s program and longtime USO supporter Chef Robert Irvine, a 14-time USO tour veteran, served as special guest. Both expressed how moved they are by the organization and its innovative tour.
“Traveling with the USO has given me the chance to perform for military audiences all over the world for some of the most appreciative crowds I’ve even seen,” said Devine, who joined the USO’s 2017 Holiday Tour. “And tonight was no different for the World’s Biggest USO Tour.”
Irvine shared in Devine’s excitement around the evening.
“Today is really special because we’ve taken the USO into what I call the 22nd century. We’re going to touch people that we could never touch all at once,” he said. “The concert feed is going live to bases around the world and that’s why tonight is really important. It’s the beginning of something really big.”
Throughout the evening, the crowd heard from service members and senior leaders directly impacted by the USO’s mission. This included live video connections to three remote USO locations – USO Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, USO Yokosuka in Japan, and USO Alaska Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson – led by Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Paul Selva; Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. James McConville and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David Goldfein, who thanked the USO for connecting service members back to the things that give meaning to their service.
“I can tell you it personally gives me very deep satisfaction knowing every morning when I wake up that what I do really matters,” Selva told the crowd before turning it over to Goldfein, who shared his support for the military support organization.
“At the center of the USO is a very big seven letter word that best defines why we are here – service. But, tonight is also about the first word in the USO – united,” he said. “And we are united tonight in celebrating the positive mission the USO has been accomplishing decade after decade for those who serve.”
Before the concert, guests got to see that mission first hand via unique, interactive experiences, including touchscreen kiosks to build virtual care packages, virtual reality tours of USO center locations and a replica of a USO expeditionary tent.
USO Chairman of the Board, retired Army Gen. George W. Casey, Jr., summarized the importance of the evening in his onstage remarks, stating that the 77-year-old organization is not resting on its laurels.
“The USO is continuing to improve the ability to support you and your families from the day you walk in the door at the MEPS station until you transition back into civilian life,” he said. “The USO is a wonderful reminder of what’s great about America – people coming together from all walks of life to give back to others who do so much for this country.”
The night was memorable for an estimated 10,000 service members and their families who enjoyed the tour remotely by tuning in online or hosting a watch party. A signature event at FGL HOUSE – a four-story dining and entertainment destination in Nashville, Tennessee – brought together service members and the public, representing the importance of the military-civilian connection.
“There really isn’t a better night at work than when you get to connect a thankful American public to the service members and families that sacrifice so much,” said Kari Moore, USO center director at USO Nashville. “Military guests and their families were thrilled to be invited and delighted to learn that FGL House and the USO made this event possible for them.”
The USO thanks all of its partners who helped make the evening possible: Altria, The Boeing Company, The Coca-Cola Company, FTD, Huntington Ingalls, Lockheed Martin, Lyft, Mission BBQ, Northrop Grumman, Oath Inc., Old Camp Whiskey, Sandboxx, United Airlines, USAA and Wawa Foundation.
