9 Country Stars Swapped Guitars for Guns – and You Won’t Believe #5!
Before they were selling out stadiums and topping the charts, these country legends were answering a different kind of call — Uncle Sam’s! From boot camp to battlefield, these stars served with honor before finding fame. Some even kept their service top secret! Here’s a roundup of 9 country stars who proudly wore the uniform before donning cowboy boots full-time.
1. Johnny Cash – U.S. Air Force
Before the “Man in Black” sang about heartbreak and prison blues, he was intercepting Soviet Morse code in Germany as a radio operator. That’s right, Cash was basically an early Cold War spy!
2. George Strait – U.S. Army
The King of Country first served as a soldier! Strait enlisted in 1971 and was stationed in Hawaii with the 25th Infantry Division. He even started playing with the Army-sponsored band “Rambling Country.”
3. Willie Nelson – U.S. Air Force
Before his outlaw country days, Willie joined the Air Force in 1950, but was medically discharged after just nine months due to back issues. Still, his patriotic spirit never left!
4. Kris Kristofferson – U.S. Army
This Rhodes Scholar and future hitmaker was a real-life officer and a gentleman! Kristofferson served as a helicopter pilot and ranger, turning down a teaching job at West Point to chase his music dreams.
5. Craig Morgan – U.S. Army & Reserves
You may know him for “Redneck Yacht Club,” but Morgan spent 17 years in the Army and Reserves, including as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division. That’s not just country, that’s hardcore.
6. Jamey Johnson – U.S. Marine Corps
This “In Color” singer served for eight years in the Marine Corps Reserve. No wonder his music hits like a rifle shot straight to the heart.
7. James Otto – U.S. Navy
This soulful singer with the MuzikMafia crew served aboard naval vessels before storming the country charts with his smooth baritone.
8. Elvis Presley – U.S. Army
Yes, The King dipped his boots in country and also in Army fatigues. Drafted at the height of his fame in 1958, Elvis served in Germany and proved he wasn’t just a mama’s boy.
9. Sturgill Simpson – U.S. Navy
Alt-country rebel Simpson served three years in the Navy, including in the Pacific. His time in uniform shaped the raw honesty of his music.
Salute to these stars who showed that before they could sing about America, they had to serve it!
