BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Country Music Artist Aaron Tippin came to the 2009 Defenders of Liberty Air show to entertain Airmen and their families during a free concert on Mother's Day. 

Mr. Tippin started the day with a rigorous workout with one of Barksdale's own physical fitness buffs, Staff Sgt. Darnell Moss. 

"It's a privilege to be able to come out here and workout with Aaron Tippin," said Sergeant Moss. "I heard the man's a beast, so he's probably going to show me up, but hopefully when we're done I'll have enough energy to go out and see his concert." 

Mr. Tippin has been lifting weights for about as long as Sergeant Moss has been alive, and he said that working out with Sergeant Moss was a new experience for him. 

"A lot of times it's folks that are not really in that good of shape and it's really cool to have somebody that's current with what's going on and exercising," he said. "There are new techniques to doing things that I get the chance to brush up on so that was really cool. This is kind of unusual, usually I'm the one leading the parade but it was kind of vice a versa this morning." 

Mr. Tippin's career started with entertaining the troops in Saudi Arabia with Bob Hope in 1990. Since then he's been making annual trips around the country and around the world to show his support for the U.S. Military. 

"It's something that I enjoy doing," he said. "I do it throughout the year and my career. Every year at thanksgiving we go to Iraq or Afghanistan and entertain the troops. When we're stateside we try to come out and participate in the bases around the country everywhere we can and this is extra special it's a combination of Air show, country music, and hanging out with the troops...I love it." 

Even though he is a world-renowned country music artist, Mr. Tippin's first love is airplanes. 

"Well, I love airplanes and a lot of folks may not know that," he said. "When I was born my dad was flying a tweety bird for the Air Force...he was an Air Force flight instructor in Bainbridge, Ga. Anytime I can be around airplanes, do a little country music and entertain the troops--that's pretty cool to me."

Despite the rain, Mr. Tippin and his band took to the stage at the air show to get the crowd dancing and singing with a little country music. 

Surrounded by a sea of military aircraft, waving flags and rain drenched fans, he performed a few of his hit singles including "You've got to stand for something," "There ain't nothin' wrong with the radio," and one of his bestselling hits "Where the stars and stripes and eagles fly" that he wrote and recorded immediately after 9/11. 

Mr. Tippin says military members and their spouses have always been his number one fans. 

"You know they're such a gracious audience," he said. "You go over there to entertain them and they end up entertaining you and not just on the battle field. I think our military personnel show a lot of appreciation to anyone who shows them appreciation. I call it the admiration society- each other's admiration society. It's worked out that military and I have been friends for many years. You guys were my first fans...still are and I was a fan way before I started performing for the troops but I still am a fan and rest assured I always will be a fan." 

The 2d Force Support Squadron was responsible for the free Mother's day concert. For more information on Aaaron Tippin visit his website at www.aarontippin.musiccitynetworks.com.