Multi-Platinum Country Music Icon Neal McCoy Will Soon Embark on His 13th USO Tour and Perform for Service Members in the Persian Gulf

Contact: Oname Thompson, USO, 703-908-6471, othompson@uso.org

ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 23 /Standard Newswire/ -- Twice voted "Entertainer of the Year" by his fans, Neal McCoy will soon trek to the Persian Gulf as part of a USO/MNC-I expeditionary entertainment tour. Visiting troops on what will be his 13th USO tour, McCoy and his band will perform a collection of the troops' favorite Neal McCoy hits. He will also dine with service members, pose for photographs, stop at command posts and sign autographs.

The son of an Irish American father who served in the U.S. Army and a Filipino mother, McCoy is a devoted supporter of the USO and America's armed forces. Committed to lending his support, he has worked with the USO for almost a decade and entertained millions of troops both stateside and abroad. In May of 2005, McCoy won the Academy of Country Music's Home Depot Humanitarian Award for his on-going efforts in support of U.S. troops and the East Texas Angels Network, an organization he and his wife founded that raises money to support families of children with terminal or life-threatening diseases.

"What I enjoy most is visiting and performing for our troops," says McCoy. "I try to make my music a diversion for them, a place where they can escape, envision their families and visit their friends back home. I'll forever be indebted to the USO for affording me that opportunity."

Born and raised in Jacksonville, Texas, McCoy fell in love with the world of entertainment at the age of nine after seeing legendary performer Michael Jackson on television. Today, with three platinum albums, a collection of back-to-back hit singles and a horde of accolades under his belt, he continues to garner fans and mesmerize audiences. His songs "Wink," "Billy's Got His Beer Goggles On," "No Doubt About It," and "The Shake," continue to be a hit and are featured on McCoy's greatest hits CD.

Since 1941, the USO has brought top-quality entertainment to millions of U.S. military service members and their families. To date, hundreds of celebrities have donated their time and talents to help the USO boost troop morale and bring a touch of home to the men and women serving our country.

AT&T, Inc. is the official telecommunications sponsor of USO entertainment tours. For a list of recent and upcoming USO tours, visit www.uso.org/whatwedo/entertainment. To learn more about the USO or to find out how to support the troops, visit www.uso.org.

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. 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 www.uso.org.