Reba McEntire & Blake Shelton, co-hosts of the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton might be country music superstars, but they have always stayed close to their Oklahoma roots. The news of Atoka County’s recent tornado disaster has Blake and Reba reaching out to their Oklahoma neighbors, teaming up to host the Tornado Relief Concert on May 26 in partnership with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Choctaw Casino Resort. The storms destroyed many homes, schools and businesses. All proceeds from the concert will go towards Atoka County’s ongoing relief efforts through the Tushka Disaster Relief Fund. Tickets go on sale May 6 at 10 a.m. CT.

“A lot of people lost a great deal in this disaster and it’s particularly close to us because we both consider Oklahoma home,” said Reba. “We wanted to do something and let the people in Oklahoma know that we love them and we’re praying for them during this difficult tragedy.”

“Oklahoma defines who I am and seeing the effects this disaster has had on my neighbors, I knew I had to do something,” said Blake. “Reba and I have a lot of love for this state and we wanted to do what we can to help. This place is my home and these people are family to us.”

A mobile fundraising campaign has also been set up with The mGive Foundation to raise funds for the relief effort. Fans can text “OKGIVE” to 27722 to make a one-time $10 donation, which will be added to their monthly cell phone bill. For more information on the Tornado Relief Concert, please visit www.choctawcasinos.com.

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Vince Gill photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

The Tulsa World Scene reports Vince Gill will receive the 2009 Spirit of Will Rogers Award on Nov. 8 at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa. Vince joins past winners Toby Keith, Garth Brooks and Jane Goodall, among others. Tickets are pricey, starting at $125, and table prices range from $1,700 to $10,000 — but proceeds, in part, will benefit American Blue Star Mothers, Oklahoma Chapter 1, which sends “Freedom Boxes,” or care packages, to troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and on any hostile foreign soil.

In other Vince news, tonight he’ll be in Los Angeles, performing with Emmylou Harris on The Jay Leno Show at 10 p.m. ET on NBC. While in L.A., Vince and Emmylou will share the stage with Melissa Etheridge and Dwight Yoakam at Club Nokia for a “guitar pull,” with proceeds benefiting the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s All for the Hall fund. Another All for the Hall concert will be held in Nashville Oct. 13 at the Sommet Center, hosted by Keith Urban and featuring Vince,  Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Jason Aldean and Lady Antebellum.

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