Scripps Networks Interactive check presentation (l to r:) Ellen Lehman, president CFMT, Ed Hardy, president GAC, GAC’s Storme Warren, Suzanne Alexander, Food Network’s Pat Neely, Gina Neely, HGTV’s Vern Yip, Travel Channel’s Samantha Brown, Adam Richman. Credit: Ed Rode/edrode.biz

From large corporations to small kids, their goal was the same: help middle Tennesseans rebuild after devastating floods. Donations from Sunday night’s live concert event and telethon, Music City Keep on Playin’ – A Benefit for Flood Relief on Great American Country Television, have reached $1.8 million and that amount will grow as donations made at www.gactv.com/help and through a texting component will continue through this Sunday, May 23.

With an all-volunteer production staff, crew and talent line-up, 100% of the money raised is going to help those most affected by what has been estimated to be $1.5 billion in damages.  Organizers GAC, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau and Gaylord Entertainment incurred all necessary expenses tied to the event.

The televised concert included performances by Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Sheryl Crow, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Rodney Atkins, Martina McBride, Kellie Pickler, CeCe Winans, Keb’ Mo’, Jaci Velasquez, Randy Montana and Will Hoge.  NASCAR stars Tony Stewart and Clint Bowyer also appeared. Hosts James Denton and Kimberly Williams-Paisley were joined by on-air personalities from GAC, Food Network, The Travel Channel and HGTV. Stars also spent time manning phone banks alongside a fleet of volunteers. Click here to see photos from the night.

Music City Keep on Playin’ – A Benefit for Flood Relief will re-air tomorrow, Thursday, May 20, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m./Eastern on GAC. Phones will be open during the re-air and donations can also still be made at www.gactv.com/help or by texting “GAC” to 501501 to make a $10 donation to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Money from the telethon is going to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, an organization that responds in times of disaster to connect generosity with need. To that end they’ve activated the Tennessee Emergency Response Fund to support relief efforts throughout middle Tennessee.  Grants from money raised will be made to organizations supporting relief and restoration in areas most affected by the floods.

Donors on hand to present checks personally included: ACM Lifting Lives, Scripps Networks Interactive (GAC parent company), Jack Daniels Distillery, Delta Airlines, Brad and Kimberly Williams Paisley, Big Machine Records, Comcast Corporation, Humana, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, Hard Rock Intertnational and T- Mobile.

“What a fantastic event! Amazing crew, volunteers and audience, and of course, wonderful talent all around. We are really marveling at what GAC and their partners put together in such short time, and are so very grateful,” said Ellen Lehman, president of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Donations can be made at www.gactv.com/help as well as by texting “GAC” to 501501 to make a $10 donation to the CFMT through this Sunday, May 23. Comcast is offering Music City Keep on Playin’ On Demand through this Sunday as well.

“We are equally ecstatic and grateful for the countless individuals across the country that were moved by the message of this telethon and responded with generous donations,” said GAC President Ed Hardy. “Through the star power of our hosts and musical guests from nearly every genre were we able to bring national visibility of the devastation in Nashville as well as to our city’s heroic and resilient residents. We thank our partners the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau and Gaylord Entertainment as well as the hundreds of volunteers who made this historic event possible.”

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