“When you’re doing something for so long and you’re playing the same set list, it loses something,” said Browning, now a Marine Corps lance corporal. “I wanted to sing for a purpose. I wanted to inspire people and I really liked how country music brought the most patriotic audience I had ever performed in front of. I thought if that was a motivator and something that inspired me, why not go all the way?
“I knew that the military had bands and I thought in some capacity maybe I could serve my country and use my talents.”