Carrie Underwood to honor military families on tour

Carrie Underwood is set to honor soldiers and their families throughout her upcoming North American tour.

The Before He Cheats star kicks off her 42-city Storyteller Tour on Saturday (30Jan16), and for 10 of those stops, she will be meeting with military families to thank them for their service.

For the initiative, Underwood joined forces with Carnival Cruise Line and Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization which provides emergency and financial assistance to families of service members and wounded warriors.

"I'm honored to be able to join Carnival Cruise Line and Operation Homefront to lift up these soldiers and their families," Underwood said at a press conference on Thursday (28Jan16). "I am really looking forward to meeting them on my tour and for the opportunity to personally thank them for all they do for our freedom.

"I feel country music has always been very close and very supportive of military members and their families. I feel like this is just another really cool opportunity to say thank you."

In addition to her meet and greet, Carnival is sponsoring an appreciation program onboard their ships that will include a video message from Underwood.

And on 4 November (16), the Grammy winner will play a special concert to honor military families in the Port of New York City aboard the new cruise ship Carnival Vista.

She has also signed on to perform aboard select Carnival ships in 2017.