Drake White discusses health and support for American troops, partners with Keystone Light and USO

Country music singer Drake White has announced he is partnering with the USO and Keystone Light for his Smooth Salute program in order to support the American troops.

The program lets those who purchase Keystone Light send a direct message to their local and state-level United Service Organizations (USO) centers, supporting America's leading organization in serving active-duty service members.

The partnership also includes limited edition Keystone Light Stars and Stripes summer packaging and a sweepstakes. The grand prize winner of the sweepstakes will win a trip to see a private show at Drake White's barn in Nashville on Veteran's Day weekend, enjoying the show alongside service members.

Drake White noticed neglect of soldiers in his hometown, now he's giving back

White, who is known for songs "Makin' Me Look Good Again," "Power of a Woman" and "Mix 'Em With Whiskey," told The Tennessean he's passionate about using his platform to support the American military.

"Hopefully we shed some light on what the USO is doing and get our troops some much needed help," White told The Tennessean.

"I grew up in a small town in Northeast Alabama and was raised by very patriotic veterans. Just guys that I watched struggle through their time (after the military)," he said.

White's uncle served in Vietnam and he had close friends that served in Afghanistan.

"I witnessed a lot of neglect of these soldiers," he said.

"They were coming home and just trying to be placed into civilization again. These warriors...coming back. The transition was really hard," White continued. "Any support I can give them, it was just planted in me a long time ago to help with my platform."

White said that Keystone Light gave him the opportunity to form this partnership and that it fell into place organically.

"I'm a beer drinker and like to tell stories," he said.

"Keystone coming together and giving me this opportunity just put gas on the fire of this passion."

Drake White's health condition helps him relate to service members

In 2019, White collapsed onstage due to a hemorrhagic stroke in Roanoke, Virginia. The incident happened only five minutes from a trauma center, which saved his life.

He was then diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a rare abnormal connection that impacts the arteries and veins in the brain. The condition can lead to paralysis.

"I had to deal with a pretty crazy injury when I had a stroke on stage," White said. "A lot of these troops are coming out of traumatic brain injuries, I feel like I relate to them even more now coming out of this injury."

White said that a stroke is something that you never quit recovering from, but that the threat that immediately caused the stroke is gone. And now, White feels like he's turned a page.

"I'm in the best shape of my life," he said.

"I just turned 40. In your 20s, you go pretty hard and you do a lot of stuff that is detrimental to your health and your body. And now I feel like I switched gears into a healthy part of my life."

White said his hand is still numb and his left foot still has issues due to the trauma to his brain, but he works on rehabilitating his injuries two to three hours a day.

After White began to recover from the stroke, the pandemic began.

"You constantly hear how hard the music industry is... It's all perspective, right? When you have to learn to walk again at 36 years old, then it doesn't seem that hard."

So after relearning how walk, how to play guitar and sing again, White found himself having to shift gears in the music industry he was eager to get back to as the world worked through COVID.

He said he and his bandmates began playing in his barn in Nashville, performing live-streamed concerts.

From there, he said playing in the barn helped him to launch a record and put his career on the map again; White released album "The Optimistic" in 2022 and EP "The Bridge" in 2023.

To be able to invite the sweepstakes winner to his barn, White said, is special to him. It's a space that represents resilience, healing and adaptation—a safe space where White began his second musical chapter.

How do I enter into the Drake White and Keystone Light sweepstakes?

From now until July 31, fans can scan QR codes on the limited edition Keystone Light Stars and Stripes packages. From there, they can send thank you messages to service members in their state.

After scanning the QR code, cans can also be entered for a chance to win a t-shirt and a trip to Drake White's barn for a concert on Nov. 9.

To learn more about White and his upcoming live performances, fans can head to drakewhite.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Drake White, Keystone Light partner to support troops, sweepstakes