Toby Keith has signed on for a trip to the Middle East with the USO. Toby, who's had several hits inspired by the military, plans to perform 18 shows in a 10-day period in the Persian Gulf on his sixth tour to the region.

"There's no denying I am definitely busy these days, but no matter how busy I am, I always make the time to visit our nation's troops," Toby says. "They all mean a lot to me, and my trips overseas to visit them is what I look forward to every year. I only wish everyone had the opportunity to travel with the USO. It's been the experience of a lifetime for me."

Toby's 2002 anthem "Courtesy Of The Red, White & Blue (The Angry American)" was inspired in part by his father's history in the Armed Services. And Toby paid homage to U.S. battalions again with his single "American Soldier."

No dates have been specified for this year's tour, though he's gone to Afghanistan and/or Iraq during May or June every year since 2004. One year, he performed live on the Academy of Country Music Awards from a location near the front lines.