Chris Young Named First-Ever Recipient of Charlie Daniels Patriot Award

What a huge honor!

Written by Lauren Laffer
Chris Young Named First-Ever Recipient of Charlie Daniels Patriot Award
Charlie Daniels and David Corlew present Chris Young with the "Charlie Daniels Patriot Award" Photo ID left to right: Charlie Daniels, Chris Young, David Corlew (Daniels' manager and The Journey Home Project co-founder); Photos courtesy of Erick Anderson / eafoto

Charlie Daniels is an avid patriot, often speaking out with his support for the United States Armed Forces. The legendary performer celebrated his passion for our military with the Charlie Daniels Patriot Award Dinner, held at The Palm Restaurant in Nashville on Tuesday, Sept. 18.

While the event was held to help raise money for The Journey Home Project, Daniels took a moment to praise fellow country star Chris Young with the inaugural Charlie Daniels Patriot Award for his efforts in supporting the troops. A second award was handed out to Nashville businessman and military contributor William Horton.

“The first ‘Patriot Award Dinner’ fundraiser for The Journey Home Project was different from our Palm fundraiser dinners in the past in that we recognized ‘Patriot Award’ recipients Chris Young and Willie Horton for their ongoing support for our veterans. Both men are certainly that and more,” remarked Daniels in a press release. “On behalf of TJHP, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who helped to make this sold out event a huge success! Ain’t it good to be alive and be in Tennessee!”

“I am immensely grateful to our military and their families for the sacrifices they make for our country and incredibly humbled to receive the Patriot Award honor from Charlie and The Journey Home Project,” added Young.

Those awarded with the Charlie Daniels Patriot Award have supported veterans in their return, rehabilitation and reintegration into normal life. It also recognizes a person or group that has dedicated time and effort into providing support to those soldiers.

Young has exemplified those tributes after making multiple trips overseas to perform for troops stationed in the Middle East, South Korea and Japan.

Tuesdays event was the most successful in the event’s five-year history, raising more than $200k for The Journey Home Project.