Granger Smith Begins 100-Mile Walk in Texas With Gov. Rick Perry in Tow

Granger Smith will literally be 'Sleeping on the Interstate' this week as he begins his second-annual 100-mile walk for the troops. The Texas-based singer-songwriter took off from south Austin on Sunday afternoon (April 15), followed closely behind by Texas state Governor Rick Perry, United States Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell and a supportive group of family, friends and fellow walkers.

The singer, who continually masters the Texas music charts with hits like his current single 'That's What I Do With It' and 2009 smash 'Don't Listen to the Radio,' will take it one foot at a time until he reaches the Fort Hood military post in Killeen, Texas, only stopping to eat and rest in an RV on the side of the highway each night.

This is the second time that Smith has made the journey from Austin, Texas to the big military base 100 miles north, and with this kickoff it has officially become an annual event. So why is it so important to him? "My purpose is to raise awareness for the soldiers," Smith told Taste of Country exclusively, just before beginning his trek. "Freedom is a gift. You know, we get to live these really cool lives, as musicians and whatever else we do -- it's pretty amazing that there are people who are volunteering their lives so that we can have ours here."

"They need to be thanked for that," he adds, referring to the men and women overseas, as well as our veterans and those in the reserves. "So, it's a big deal to do it again -- to raise awareness. That's why we're here and that's why we'll do it again."

Also walking with Smith is the Boot Campaign, a group which donates the proceeds from the sale of military combat boots to soldiers in need. Of course, Smith has slipped on his own pair of combat boots for his journey.

The singer is expected to reach Killeen on Thursday, April 19, where he'll then deliver an acoustic concert to the military and their families as a way of commemorating the big finish of this year's event.