Diverse News 2007®

2007 Hope and Freedom USO Tour to Bring Entertainment to Troops in the Persian Gulf for Sixth Consecutive Year

The USO is a private nonprofit, charitable organization relying on contributions from individuals, organizations and corporations to support its programs for service members and their families around the world. The USO serves as the link between the American people and our men and women in uniform. The mission of the USO is to bring a touch of home to service members and their families. (PRNewsFoto/USO)

WASHINGTON, DC UNITED STATES

Keni Thomas, Vince Morris, Leeann Tweeden, Sheryl Underwood, Darryl Worley, the DCC and the U.S. Army Band to Join Sergeant Major of the Army Preston and Entertain the U.S. Military ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston and a constellation of entertainers will soon travel by land, air and sea to bring the celebrated "2007 Hope and Freedom USO Tour" to service members in the Persian Gulf. The 14-day tour will span three countries and include performances by country rocker Keni Thomas, funnyman Vince Morris, sports commentator Leeann Tweeden, comedian Sheryl Underwood, country music singer Darryl Worley, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and the U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own." Entertaining troops for the sixth consecutive year, the "2007 Hope and Freedom USO Tour" will comprise a series of staged events, ranging from comedy skits and musical performances to audience sing-a-longs and autograph signings. Designed to boost troop morale, the tour will bring laughter and a break from day-to-day activities to thousands of soldiers, marines, airmen, sailors, guardsmen and reservists stationed throughout region. In addition to the variety show performances, the band of entertainers will also chat with troops, pose for pictures and express heartfelt gratitude. "This is my third consecutive time touring on the Hope and Freedom USO Tour," says Thomas. "And there's nothing like it. Giving thanks, bringing smiles and performing songs for those who sacrifice their lives is an indescribable feeling and one of the highlights of my career." Sworn in as the 13th Sergeant Major of the Army in 2004, Preston serves as the Army Chief of Staff's personal adviser on all enlisted-related matters. Dedicated to thanking service members and letting them know military leaders are behind them, Preston has spearheaded the "Hope and Freedom USO Tour" for four years. Aiding in communicating the military's story and honoring troops, the tour is an annual event that is celebrated by military personnel. A former Army Ranger and recipient of the Bronze Star for Valor, Thomas takes command of the stage with electrifying live performances that reach far beyond his hometown beginnings of Columbus, Georgia. One of today's most respected new artists to enter the Nashville music scene, Thomas has opened for such artists as Keith Urban and Brad Paisley, among others. Touring nationally with his band "Cornbread," Thomas has just completed recording his new album "Gunslinger," due out in early 2008. The album is a follow up to "Flags of our Fathers: A Soldier's Story," an album he recorded as a tribute to U.S. troops and their families. Both albums benefit the Hero Fund, established by Thomas through the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, to raise money for the college educations of children whose parents were lost in combat or training. A native of Columbus, Ohio, Morris speaks from the heart, giving him the most unique voice in comedy today. Armed with a slue of thought-provoking, dangerously funny and controversial comedic material, Morris challenges audiences to change the negative images and stereotypes they accept daily. Having headlined at comedy clubs and theaters nationwide, he has appeared on such shows as B.E.T.'s "Comic View," Comedy Central's "Tough Crowd" and "Premium Blend" and HBO's "Sex and The City," among others. He has also been showcased at the Montreal Comedy Festival and the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, CO. A familiar face to sports enthusiasts around the country, Tweeden is a former host of the extreme sports show "54321" and a regular contributor on the "Best Damn Sports Show Period." Tweeden began her career in modeling at the age of three and has graced the covers of such magazines as "FHM," "Fitness RX" and "American Health and Fitness." The daughter of an Air Force Vietnam veteran who served two tours of duty, Tweeden has participated in ten USO tours, eight of which were in the Middle East. She also accompanied a host of entertainers on the first USO tour to Iraq in 2003 and entertained troops in Iraq, Kuwait, Korea, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Djibouti, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, Japan, Germany, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. A former member of the U.S. Armed Forces, Underwood was the host of B.E.T.'s "Comic View" and "Holla," a talk show she created and produced based loosely on Bill Maher's "Politically Incorrect." The winner of such comedy competitions as "Funniest Woman at the Improv" and "Old English Comedy Crunch," she is a favorite on HBO's "All-Star Def Comedy Jam," Showtime's "Full-Frontal Comedy Show," "Motown Live" and "Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen." Named one of today's hardest working comedians, Underwood has also starred in such films as "Bullworth," "I Got the Hook Up" and "Beauty Shop" starring Queen Latifah. Today, Underwood can be heard live on the nationally syndicated "Tom Joyner Morning Show" as well as on Jamie Foxx's "The Foxxhole" on Sirius Radio 106, where her wry humor and down-to-earth appeal continue to capture audiences. Transformed by his 2002 USO visit to entertain troops in the Persian Gulf, country music singer/songwriter Worley wrote and recorded "Have You Forgotten," one of today's most inspiration records. An avid supporter of the U.S. military, Worley tours regularly with the USO and played a key role in organizing the annual American Freedom Festival to raise funds for veterans. Born in Tennessee to the father of a preacher, he was nominated for numerous awards by the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association, among others. Worley's fifth and most recent album, "Here and Now," was released in 2006 and features the emotionally-charged hit single, "I Just Came Back (From a War)." Best known for their trend-setting dance routines, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are regarded as "America's Sweethearts." Having toured with the USO and entertained troops since 1979, the "2007 Hope and Freedom Tour" will mark the group's 64th USO tour, the most number of tours by any other entertainment group in USO history. Synonymous with football, the troupe has become the darlings of the National Football League and is comprised of 38 accomplished dancers. Recognized worldwide, they have performed on "Saturday Night Live," starred in commercials and motion pictures, and appeared on game shows like "Family Feud." The troupe can now be seen on Country Music Television's "Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team," a series revealing exclusive behind-the-scenes footage during try-out auditions and training camp. Historically, few events have left a more lasting positive emotional impression on service members and their families than USO celebrity entertainment tours. Since the USO's inception in 1941, thousands of celebrities have selflessly lent their time and talents, traveling to military bases around the world to entertain the troops. USO tours are essential to fulfilling the USO's mission of boosting troop morale, bringing them a small piece of home. AT&T, Inc. is the official telecommunications sponsor of USO entertainment tours. For a list of recent and upcoming USO tours, visit http://www.uso.org/whatwedo/entertainment. To learn more about the USO or to find out how to support the troops, visit http://www.uso.org. About the USO For more than 66 years, the USO (United Service Organizations) has been providing morale, welfare and recreational services to U.S. military personnel and their families. The USO is a nonprofit, charitable organization, relying on the generosity of the American people to support its programs and services. The USO is supported by Worldwide Strategic Partners AT&T Inc., BAE Systems North America, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, DRS Technologies, Inc., S & K Sales Co. and TriWest Healthcare Alliance. Other corporate donors, including the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381), have joined thousands of individual donors to support the USO. For more information on the USO, please visit our Web site at http://www.uso.org.