Brent First to Entertain American Troops Overseas

After September 11th Attack on America

             What started out as a trip to Italy for Brent and his son, Buster, ended up being way more than a vacation.  Brent became the first entertainer to perform for U.S. troops overseas since the September 11th terrorist attacks. 

            “In July 2001, I had planned an Italian vacation.”  said Brent.   “On September 11th, the focus changed.  When I was in Vietnam I truly appreciated the entertainers who performed for us and I wanted to do the same for this generation of Americans.  My son-in-law is a Marine Corps F-18 pilot.  So I called my long-time publicist, Carole Bartholomeaux, and she pulled a few strings and with the help of Senators John McCain and John Kyl (R-AZ), and the Pentagon, the shows were approved.  Commander Voorhees, at the Pentagon, and Joe Mennit in Italy, were extremely helpful in putting the performances together quickly.” 

            On November 5th, 2001, Brent performed songs from his two CDs, “Livin’ the Life (Jimmy Buffett Only Wrote About),” and “Perpetual Vacation,” to an enthusiastic crowd of officers and enlisted families stationed at Aviano Air Base in Italy. Burns also visited patients at the local military hospital, and later strummed a few tunes for the children at the local school.   

            After his performances, Brent and Buster did the “tourist thing” and visited Rome, Florence and Venice.
                                  Click here to view pictures of the trip.

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