Artists Give Back

During the recent "Xtreme Muzik The Tour" stop at The Woods Amphitheater at Fontanel, co-headliners Gretchen Wilson and Big & Rich surprised Air Force veteran Shaun Meadows with a new house. It will be built with proceeds from the show in conjunction with Operation Finally Home. Meadows lost both legs during combat and has since become the first active-duty double amputee in Air Force history to successfully perform a personnel drop (skydive).

• A benefit for Mark Wehner is tonight (9/14) at Douglas Corner at 6 pm. Set to perform are Buddy Miller, Jim Lauderdale, Pat McLaughlin, Sally Mudd, The 1861 Project and more. Wehner, a longtime Americana music supporter, has stage four cancer.

Performing at the fundraiser Tolliver (L) and Warrix (R). Credit: Debbie Wallace

• Chad Warrix and David Tolliver, formerly of Halfway to Hazard, teamed with Concerts 4 A Cause to host the Crockettsville, Ky.  Charity Concert and Trail Ride to benefit children of adoption and foster care. Helping raise over $80,000 were artists Randy Houser, Keith Anderson, Christian Kane, Danielle Peck, Gabe Garcia, Craig Wayne Boyd, Larry Cordle and Lisa Torres.

• Collin Raye has been named national spokesperson of the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network, a foundation created by her parents and siblings following her death by starvation in 2005.

• Peter Cetera will perform a concert Sept. 22 at The Factory at Franklin to benefit Christ Presbyterian Academy. Details at www.cpalions.org/petercetera.

• New compilation album My Country: Smash Hits 2 features tracks from Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Jamie O’Neal and many more to benefit the Fisher House Foundation. In addition, F3 Technologies and Stadium Entertainment are offering a contest for fans to enter a video of their soldier’s homecoming and become a part of the music video for O’Neal’s single “Soldier Comin’ Home,” which is on the album. The contest runs until Sept. 30 here.

• The 10th annual John Jarrard Foundation Concert runs Sept. 23-24 at Brenau University in Gainesville, Ga. featuring a songwriting seminar, and performers including Steve Dorff, Manuel Seal, Jan Smith, ZBB’s Jon Driskell Hopkins, Greg Barnhill, Will Robinson, Mark Beeson. Katie Deal, Stella Parton, Rachel Farley, and Blackberry Smoke. Late songwriter Jarrard is a Gainesville native with several country hits who was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. The concert benefits local charities. Details here.

• Global humanitarian organization World Vision has added several Country music artists to its growing list of supporters in the United States and around the world. Joining the World Vision efforts are Attwater, Carter’s Chord, Jason Crabb, Sarah Darling, Lainey Edwards, LoCash Cowboys and Gary Morris.

Ty Herndon and former NFL player Kevin Turner were celebrity spokespersons for the 10th annual CVS/pharmacy “Researching A Cure” ALS fundraising campaign. On Sept. 1 at Boston’s Fenway Park they presented a check to the ALS Therapy Alliance for $4.3 million. Pictured (L-R): Kevin Turner, Ty Herndon, and campaign co-chairs Barry Winovich and Treg Charlton. Photo: Sue Bruce Photography.