Big Kenny photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Nashville.

You hear them every day on your radio or watch their videos on GAC. But country stars get involved in lots of things outside of country music.

Gretchen Wilson’s taking part in a big sports event, Kathy Mattea’s taking an environmental stance, Larry Gatlin and the Oak Ridge Boys are politicking and Big Kenny’s effort to find a lost friend came to a tragic ending.

Here’s what’s happening with some of your favorite stars outside the studio and away from the concert stage:

• Big Kenny went to Haiti last month to search for his friend, Walt Ratterman, who was staying at the Hotel Montana in Port-au-Prince when the earthquake hit. Walt had joined Big Kenny when he went on a charity mission to the Sudan and was in Haiti Jan. 12 working on other non-profit projects. Walt’s remains were found Sunday, according to The Oregonian, nearly a month after the disaster. Big Kenny has since posted a note on his website promising “to keep Walt’s spirit alive through work in Haiti.” That work currently includes getting water to quake survivors.

• Gretchen Wilson will spend Valentine’s Day involved with a sports event. She’s set to perform the national anthem at the NBA All-Star Game Sunday in Arlington, Texas.

• Thursday is I Love Mountains Day in Kentucky, and Kathy Mattea will join an organization called Kentuckians For The Commonwealth in a rally at the state capitol in Frankfort to stop mountaintop removal, according to The Huffington Post.

• Republican Zach Wamp, gunning for Tennessee governor, has enlisted more country stars for his campaign. Previously aided at events by John Rich, Naomi Judd and Gretchen Wilson, he has fundraisers coming this spring with Larry Gatlin, the Oak Ridge Boys, T.G. Sheppard and Paul Overstreet, The Knoxville News reported.

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