Joe Nichols
Jan 31, 2011
When the time came for Show Dog-Universal Group artist Joe Nichols to shoot his latest music video, "The Shape I'm In," he decided to dedicate the music video to the men and women who are returning home from their military service and trying to get back to normal life.
Nichols has been working with retired Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell and the Boot Campaign, which is an organization dedicated to bringing awareness and gratitude to the men and women returning home from their military service. Luttrell is also the founder of the Lone Survivor Foundation.
The Boot Campaign is a way for citizens to show their gratitude and appreciation for the American military. The campaign asks Americans to put their boots on during their day-to-day routine to symbolically walk in the shoes of our military men and women to remember their service and sacrifice. Proceeds from the campaign's signature boots go towards organizations like the Lone Survivor Foundation.
"I have had an opportunity to perform for our troops stationed in the Middle East multiple times, and got just a small glimpse of what they deal with everyday," Nichols said. "I have also been working with Marcus Luttrell's Boot Campaign and have been inspired by his story. In a desire to want to do more with him and his efforts, we came up with the idea to connect the song's lyrics with what Marcus and Co. have been doing already - which is helping soldiers get back into a normal life after returning home."
The video features special appearances by Luttrell as well as Captain Chad Fleming (retired), who lost his left leg in battle and Captain Ivan Castro who was blinded by enemy fire.
Other Country artists involved in the Boot Campaign project include George Jones, Oak Ridge Boys, Jan Howard, Mel Tillis, Lee Greenwood, Charlie Daniels, Josh Turner, Phil Vassar, Joe Nichols, Randy Houser, Gretchen Wilson, Little Texas, Joe Diffie, Jamie O'Neal, Heidi Newfield, Justin Moore, Chuck Wicks, Colt Ford, Randy Rogers Band, Eli Young Band, Derek Sholl, Joey + Rory and Jack Ingram. Also on board are bluegrass artists The Grascals and The Roys, along with Texas artists Cross Canadian Ragweed, Robert Earl Keen, Jason Boland, Aaron Watson, Mick and the Motorcars, Reckless Kelly, Wade Bowen, Kevin Fowler, Stoney LaRue, No Justice, Bleu Edmondson, and Granger Smith.
For more information about The Boot Campaign, visit: www.bootcampaign.com. For more on Joe Nichols, visit www.joenichols.com.
By Karen Goodner
