Country music star Zac Brown was recognized at the 2025 American Music Awards with the inaugural Veterans Voice Award, presented by the Easy Day Foundation. The award honors Brown’s ongoing efforts to support veterans and military families across the United States.
Taking the stage at the AMAs on Memorial Day, Brown reflected on the significance of the moment. “It means so much to be standing here tonight, especially on Memorial Day, a day when we honor the brave men and women who gave everything for this country,” he said during his acceptance speech.
A Commitment to Veterans and Families
Brown expressed deep gratitude to the AMAs and Easy Day Foundation for the recognition. “I’m deeply honored and grateful. Music is medicine, and I believe I was put here to use it as a tool to bring people together,” he told the crowd. “Real joy comes from helping people.”
Brown has long been known for championing veterans’ causes. During his speech, he emphasized the importance of raising awareness and providing resources for those who serve. “This award is very important because of the awareness it brings back to those who serve us,” he said. “There’s much to do for the incredible men and women who do whatever they are asked so that we can be free and safe here in America to pursue our own dreams.”
Brown highlighted the role his band, Zac Brown Band, plays in honoring service members at live shows. “Almost every ZBB show ends with a salute for veterans,” he said, describing it as “our way of saying thank you and shining a light on the sacrifice and strength they carry with them every single day.”
Building Community Through Camp Southern Ground
Beyond the stage, Brown has made a significant impact through Camp Southern Ground, a nonprofit campus he founded in Georgia. Originally inspired by his own transformative childhood experiences at summer camp, the facility now hosts programs specifically designed for veterans and their families.
“In the summers, we welcome kids from all backgrounds and abilities, especially military families,” Brown explained. “Throughout the year, we run 34 weeks of programs like Warrior Week and Warrior Family Camps to help veterans and their families find community, direction, and healing.”
Brown gave a heartfelt shoutout to the staff at Camp Southern Ground and the many groups working nationwide to uplift veterans. “At the heart of it all, our mission is simple: do good and lift each other up,” he said.
Closing his speech, Brown offered a powerful message of gratitude: “Thank you again to all the brave men and women who served and protected our freedom. We’re forever grateful. God bless you all, and God bless America.”
The 2025 American Music Awards, hosted live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+, continue to celebrate the achievements of artists across genres — while shining a light on the causes that matter most to their stars.
Comments
Zac Brown Receives Big Honor on Memorial Day