Middle Tennessee to host 5th annual Fox Nation Patriot Awards at Grand Ole Opry House

Fox Nation’s 5th annual Patriot Awards was hosted Thursday in Nashville by Sumner County's Pete Hegseth.

A television host and author, Hegseth has emceed the show all five years. The Patriot Awards is Fox Nation’s awards show honoring everyday heroes including military veterans, first responders and inspirational figures.

“I’m really proud of Fox Nation for embracing this from the beginning because there are lots of awards shows that celebrate actors and not any that celebrate America. It was a straightforward idea that we tried to stay very true to, and it’s grown every year,” Hegseth said.

“I think about the guys I served with every time I’m up there (on stage), none of which get the spotlight from my time in the military but deserve it, and that’s the ethos of the Patriot Awards,” he said. “What we celebrate is a reflection of what we value, and we need to celebrate more of what these great Americans do.”

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Hegseth served as an infantryman in the United States Army, completing three deployments in Afghanistan, Iraq and Cuba's Guantanamo Bay, where he served as a counterinsurgency instructor, civil military operations officer and infantry platoon leader.

He was awarded two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman Badge for his service overseas, he said.

“Most of my time was in the National Guard, and I also happened to be in Washington D.C., in the D.C. (National) Guard, when the riots happened in June of 2020, so I’ve been a lot of different places, but I’m just proud to serve my country," he said.

Hegseth previously held executive director positions with advocacy groups, Vets for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America. Today, the New York Times bestseller and father of seven commutes weekly to New York, where he co-hosts the show Fox & Friends Weekend.

He’s written four books with a fifth one scheduled for release next year, he said.

What happened at the show?

This was the first time the awards show was held in Nashville, organizers said.

“I’m proud that it’s local,” Hegseth said, noting his move to Sumner County about a year ago.

“It’s neat to have it in our backyard. It’s a wonderful community and it’ll be great to kind of have all of FOX come to Nashville for that day and that week to showcase the Patriot Awards.”

The event was live-streamed on Fox Nation and will be later presented on Fox News at 7 p.m. on Nov. 23, according to a press release.

A portion of the show proceeds will benefit Answer the Call, a nonprofit that provides financial assistance and support to the families of New York City police and firefighters killed in the line of duty.

Awards presented during the show included Salute to Service, Back the Blue, Fox Weather Award for Courage, Young Patriot and Most Valuable Patriot.

“There is a powerful local angle, too, which I can’t reveal, but pertinent to Nashville,” Hegseth said.

“One of the keys to the Patriot Awards is that we’re not here to switch it up. When it comes to love of your country and faith and courage and supporting law enforcement and our military, we try really hard to keep it right there,” he said. “The stories will be new… but the core is the same. We’re proud, and we’re excited to bring it to Nashville.”

Country music artist and U.S. Army Veteran Craig Morgan was scheduled to perform alongside actor and Fox Nation host Dennis Quaid during the awards show, the release said.

Other Nashville-based artists were also scheduled to perform live throughout the evening.

Fox News Media personalities, including Sean Hannity, Jesse Watters, Laura Ingraham, Dana Perino and others, were expected to make appearances.

Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Fox Nation Patriot Awards in Nashville: What to expect, who's hosting