Teen idol Hilary Duff held a free concert for U.S. military families in Fayetteville, N.C., that brought more than 7,000 fans to the Crown Coliseum.

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The multiplatinum singer, who starred in "A Cinderella Story," headlined the Tuesday night show called "Hilary Duff Rocks for the Troops."

Duff has made free concert tickets available to military families on other concert tour stops recently, but the Fayetteville show was the first presented solely for them.

"I think she understands, or at least wants to try to understand, the sacrifices soldiers and their families make," Cynthia Ivins said.

Ivins brought her two children, 13-year-old Morgan and 9-year-old Denise, the Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer reported.

"She is a good role model," Ivins said. "You don't hear about her getting into trouble or anything like that."

Fans, young and old, sang along with Duff.

"You can't really help it," said Mike Goings, who brought his daughter Taylor to the show. "Her CD is on all the time in our house, and I guess it just becomes second nature."

Taylor said her dad liked Duff's music.

"Maybe more than me," she said.