Kellie Pickler spends Christmas in Afghanistan with troops

December 10, 2013. Singer Kellie Pickler poses backstage during the 4th annual American Country Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Reuters)

Kellie Pickler spent Christmas Day a long way from home. Clad in camouflage leggings and rhinestone boots the country singer was in Kandahar, Afghanistan singing for the troops.

According to the Washington Post the former “American Idol” contestant has been busy these last few days. She visited wounded troops, flew in Black Hawks and Chinooks, fired a Howitzer and, of course, posed for countless photos, charming everyone she met.

Pickler also met a young Afghan boy who had been blinded by a makeshift bomb and spoke movingly of the war effort.

“If I were an Afghan woman,” she said. “I would hope someone would help me provide a better life for me and my children.”

This wasn’t Pickler’s first visit to Afghanistan. The “Dancing with the Stars” winner has been on six previous USO tours. On this one, she was accompanied by her husband, Kyle Jacobs.

When the 27-year-old North Carolina native took to the stage she easily won over the crowd joking that she “really wanted to bring y’all some Jack Daniels.” She told the audience that her husband called her “his gypsy redneck,” and asked the cowboys to raise their hands.

When an electrical problem produced a loud popping noise, momentarily giving everyone a scare she reassured them.

“There’s no place I’d rather spend Christmas,” she declared.

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