Jo Dee Messina rocks Aviano

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Sarah Gregory
  • 31st Fighter Wing Pubic Affairs
Aviano Air Base, Italy --  Country music star Jo Dee Messina rocked the house for more than 1,200 fans during a free concert in Hangar One Jan. 6.
"It was incredible entertainment and it was definitely well worth volunteering to set up for the show," said concert-goer Staff Sgt. Jason Beeney, 31st Communications Squadron. "It was the best USO show I've seen in my seven years in the Air Force."

The concert was part of an Italian USO tour. After her concert here, Ms. Messina performed in Vicenza Monday night and in Naples Wednesday.

While this was Ms. Messina's first time performing for the military overseas, she has put on numerous performances for military members stateside with the help of Spirit of America, an organization that helps bring entertainment to the bases in the U.S.

"If there's a base between shows, we'll stop by and do a show," she said. "And then I did a function with the USO in Washington and asked them about going to see the troops overseas. We've done so much work with them at home that I was like, OK, let's see what else we can do. So I asked USO and they brought me over here."

For Ms. Messina, whose father retired from the Navy and uncle from the Coast Guard, performing for troops is about showing her support and being there for them.

"It always seems that a military crowd is more appreciative, because they don't have the option to have as much entertainment as a civilian audience," she said.

Before her concert, Ms. Messina held an autograph session at the base exchange, where fans began lining up hours before her scheduled arrival. Although she mostly signed CDs, posters, and pictures here, Ms. Messina did say that she was once asked to sign a loaf of bread. She likes doing autograph sessions because "It's always interesting to see different people and hear their stories," she said.

Traveling with her band and light and sound technicians, her crew of 14 people performed the hit songs that helped rocket her to the top of the country music charts. They also played a surprise rendition of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" and ended the show with the National Anthem.

Hoping to do another USO tour in the future, Messina is also working on a new album to be released later in the year.

"I told [USO] we were interested in going to Iraq, but we'll go wherever they need us," she said.

Despite being from Massachusetts, which is not typically associated with country music, Ms. Messina said she grew up listening to the classics like Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline.

"I love the realness of country music," she said. "When I first fell in love with it, I felt like someone was talking about me. And I think that's why a lot of people gravitate toward country music because the subject matter is about general life experiences."

No matter what type of music a person listens to, Ms. Messina said they can enjoy her concerts.

"Everybody has fun. Me and the band have a blast and I think that the audience always sees that and feels that energy," she said. "We hit the ground running and rock it pretty hard. It's just good music."