Cole Swindell is saluting our troops in the music video for his latest single, "Ain't Worth the Whiskey."

Filmed at the Silver Dollar Saloon in Nashville, the video features a pretty blonde ex who happens to be at the same bar as Swindell. But while other country songs have told the story of what it means to get over an ex, Swindell's clip chooses to focus on a bigger picture. In the middle of his song, the singer jumps onto the stage to salute real-life U.S. Special Forces veteran Kyle Davis, who served five tours in Afghanistan. The pair were fraternity brothers in college.

"I think we all know why we're here tonight," Swindell says. "Our good friend Kyle Davis is finally home from Afghanistan." He calls Davis up onto the stage and honors him in the middle of the packed bar. "Because of people like this right here — men and women serving our country — we get to live in a free country, the best country. This is to Kyle! Somebody get him a drink!"

His heartfelt salute elevates the song from a whiskey-induced track about getting over an ex to a powerful homage to some of America's greatest heroes. The song then continues with Swindell singing, "I'm raising my glass to those saving our ass overseas."

“It was cool to have Kyle and some of his actual team members in the video — we want to do anything we can to make them feel involved and let them know that we appreciate them letting us do what we love while they’re out doing that stuff,” Swindell tells Entertainment Weekly. “It’s nice to know there’s a bigger meaning behind the video than just an ex-girlfriend. And just crazy seeing them have fun and think what we’re doing was so cool while to us it’s like, ‘Dude, you can be in all our videos if you want,’” he notes.

“Ain’t Worth the Whiskey” is Swindell’s third single from his self-titled debut album. The ACM New Artist of the Year nominee has a busy year ahead of him. He will be joining Kenny Chesney's 2015 The Big Revival tour in May.

The Cole Swindell Cheat Sheet

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