The front of the Grand Ole Opry House is under several feet of water as a result of the flooding Cumberland River caused by storms in Nashville, TN on May 1-2, 2010.
The first national telethon and concert event to raise money to aid victims of last weekend’s flooding disaster in middle Tennessee has been announced by Great American Country Television, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau and Gaylord Entertainment. Music City Keep on Playin’ – A Benefit for Flood Relief will air commercial-free on GAC, Sunday, May 16, 8– 10 p.m. Eastern.
Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Rodney Atkins and additional artists will perform live at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium while celebrities will host and join other volunteers to man phone banks to collect call-in donations. The special will re-air at 10 p.m., 12 a.m. and 2 a.m. and phone lines will remain open for donations. All money raised will go to those in need in Middle Tennessee. Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee will be the organization processing and distributing donations.
“Nashville has endured historic flooding, but we are resilient, recovery efforts have already begun and I am confident we will come out of this stronger than ever,” said Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. “Music is the heart and soul of this city and as such it will play a critical role in its recovery. This collaborative effort is just one example.”
The flood damage in Nashville and 5 surrounding counties is expected to exceed $1 billion and six middle Tennessee counties have been declared Federal disaster areas. Icons of the country music landscape in Nashville, including the Grand Ole Opry House incurred serious flood damage while many musicians, including Paisley, suffered major equipment and instrument losses.
“This is the first event to solicit funds on a national level,” said GAC President Ed Hardy. “While it’s important that our viewers know our city has come together and survived this unfortunate event, thousands of Nashville and middle Tennessee residents are in serious need and some of this city’s most talented residents are generously stepping in to help.” In addition to artists, many production people are donating their time and talent to the event. High Five Entertainment will produce the telethon and concert event.
“Many of us have friends and family members who are just now beginning to get back into their homes to survey the damage and start rebuilding their lives,” said Colin Reed, chairman and CEO of Gaylord Entertainment. “At the same time, support has come pouring in from every corner of the community. And now, we are reaching out on a national level to ensure that the people of Nashville have every resource they need to restore our city.”
Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau President Butch Spyridon added, “We are proud to partner with GAC and Gaylord Entertainment to raise money for Nashville’s flood victims. This concert effort is a great example of how the partnership between Nashville’s hospitality and music industries benefits the entire city.”
Ticket information for Music City Keep On Playin’ – A Benefit for Flood Relief will be announced shortly.
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we were there last night for the concert and it was wonderful! we just happened to be visiting in nashville from indiana, as we do often. it’s a lovely city, and already looking like her old self in the downtown area. a local official stopped us on the street to thank us for coming to visit and welcome us to their home. and by the way, the first donation last night was for $100,000 from Brad Paisley and his wife, Kimberly, so don’t ever say that the performers don’t help. they do, and they did raise tons of money with their time and talent, all of which goes to the community fund to help flood victims. if you want to see southern grace and hospitality, come to nashville!
How do the individuals receive the money people are so generously donating? If the donation money is going to a major organization that distributes the money to other organizations, it seems that a lot of money donated is being spent for administration costs. I NEED money to pay contractors to rebuild my home, but I don't know how to apply to receive any of this money! Is all of it going to be distributed through other organizations? How do we, the flood victims, actually receive ANY OF THIS MONEY! I feel frustrated, yes, water and ham sandwiches that are being brought through my neighborhood are nice, but now I need a new refrigerator, I need my electrical system repaired, I need a new HVAC systerm, because the new one I just paid 5,000,00 for from TRANE got flooded and TRANE will not honor the warranty, because the damage is flood related. I need walls, I need flooring, I need kitchen cabinets, not more ham sandwiches and water! Please, how do we, the flood victims, actually receive any of this money?
GailFelts@gmail.com
Hope you will show this tribute to the flood releif again so the rest of us can see it. GAC we do not get in Wis. Try 6 – 12 – 4- 5- channels this works for people who do not have cable too. thanks , and God bless you all. stay stong.
live in west bend ,wi and can not get it on my charter cable. I so wanted to see this . My heart goes out to all . you will all make it , it is just stuff. you have your heart and life and family.
when Lady A came on, that's when I called….aren't they wonderful….infact all these artistts just singing and playing live without huge backup….shows the depth of the talent country music has….let alone soul…
we live 2500 miles away….
I'm hoping that some of this money being raised does go to the ordinary people and not the people running the show. I'm not happy with the Red Cross – when Katrina hit and the New Orleans citizens came to Houston – the Red Cross was downtown handing out debit cards to the victims. Their handing out food in the Pennington Bend area.
I agree I don't live in Nashville but I would love too. The community seems to be very strong and caring.. I myself would love to help out but unfortunately I live 800 miles away.. I did however give a lot of money.
We'll be watching via Comcast in the Sacramento CA area. Here's another suggestion to raise money for flood relief: If country music performers had instruments that were all but destroyed in the flood (not salvageable for playing), but the instruments can be cleaned up enough to be safely sold, I'm wondering if it might be worthwhile for performers to donate them. They could be auctioned off with proceeds going to assist flood victims. I'd buy one to display in my home, as a tribute to that performer and all the other people of Middle Tennessee affected by the flooding. Not sure if they can be adequately cleaned up to be safe (thinking microbes here) but worth looking into.
these entertainers have a ton of money and need to dig in deep into their pockets and bail their city out. instead they give as little as possible and come on the air and sing few songs and beg us for money. selfish cheap bastards.
they are putting on a show and raising money the best way they know how…by using their god given talent…. and all the money is going towards helping other people so how is it selfish and cheap?
oh yeah and read thishttp://www.thecountryvibe.com/Blog1/index.php/201...
You are a complete jerk and idiot! Nashvillians pull together, we don't whine and we don't ask for hand outs and you want to dis' those who want to help! What are you doing to help? They are using their gifts to help others and while you sit back and blog and probably not lifting a finger to help anyone… you obviously are not a Nashvillian and if you are I know your parents tried to raise you better than that!
well…..they don't have to do a thing now do they….remember, the 1000 yr floods of Nashville didn't get the huge Katrina publicity……so whatever attention these entertainers can bring to the Nashville situation is a very good thing….
I know for a fact that Brad, Kieth, Dierks, and many of the other musicians on the show lost hundreds of thousands in stage gear and instruments due to the flood. Then they donate their time, talent, and money to help, and all you can do is find it in your hearth to be negative, criticize and call people names when YOU obviously have no clue!!!
My Heart goes out to everyone who was affected by this horrible disaster
I will be watching and praying for all of you!!!
God bless all of you and I will be donating what I can as well.
You can count on Country Artists and there fans to come together for this event and help those in need.. May God Bless each and everyone of you for your support.
Yeah, its like Tracy Lawrence said "they just show on up with their big ol' hearts." God bless all affected. My prayers are with y'all.
I sure hope I can get this via comcast in Sacramento. But I'll find a way to donate to this great cause somehow. I love country.
my prayers for all of you i dont live in tennessee but visit alot i love it . i hope everyone can get back on their feet soon. i am looking forward to the concert let us know when tickets go on sell. god bless tennessee.
I have comcast here in Washington State, what channel is it on?
Country artists have always been the first to step up to the plate when need is great. They are the best!
When are the tickets going on sale?
I don’t have that cable station. Can I watch it on my computer????
Yes you can!
if we go to GACTV.com will it be a live feed.. I am here in Canada.. thanks for your help.. would love to watch and donate too…
Hope you have your "Artist of the Month" Bo Bice performing!
My heart is breaking for Nashville, and my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
oh my god. What a mess.
We don't have GAC in Québec, can't it be on another channel too?
I think it is going to be on the computer as well. So maybe you can see it that way.