Former Fort Campbell service member and Country Music star Craig Morgan is lending his support to help The Jack Daniel Distillery in the “Operation Ride Home” campaign, an effort to assist soldiers and their families in traveling home for the holidays.

The famed distillery has joined forces with the Armed Services YMCA of Fort Campbell that will work with military officials at the installation to identify soldiers and families with particular needs and financial assistance for travel from the base to their homes throughout the U.S. this holiday season.

In honor of the decorated 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Jack Daniel’s has donated $101,000 to launch the campaign and is encouraging its friends to visit www.JDOperationRideHome.com and contribute what they can to assist in the effort. The Armed Services YMCA will be purchasing plane tickets and providing pre-paid debit cards for gas, lodging and food for soldiers and their families to travel to their family homes. The 101st Airborne Division has members serving from all over the U.S. and has been on multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

“There are so many enlisted soldiers with families who would love to go to their homes for the holidays, but just don’t have the means to do it,” said Jeff Arnett, Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller. “These heroes have been serving our country on multiple deployments overseas and we just want to do what we can to help reunite them with their families during this special season. After all, it’s not what is under the Christmas tree, but who is around it.”

Marines, sailors and members of the local community gathered at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point theater for a free country music concert on November 16. Artists featured include Kellie Pickler, Jack Ingram, Steve Holy, Josh Thompson, Lauren Alaina and Bill Gentry.

“This is so exciting. I saw Jack Ingram at the first concert we had here a few years ago,” said Lori A. Crawford, the protocol officer for MCAS Cherry Point. “I’m looking forward to seeing him play again.”

The third annual concert was hosted by Marine Corps Community Services in partnership with local country music radio station, 95.1 WRNS.

“This is great. I come from a military family, my grandpa was in the Marines,” said Bill Gentry. “We’ll come back anytime ya’ll will have us.”
Lauren Alaina opened the show to more than 1,800 fans by singing the national anthem.

“It’s great to be here,” said Lauren. “I’m a big supporter of our military.”

Similar to the last two concerts held at the theater, seating was first-come, first-served. Fans began lining up for a chance at the best seats more than 3 hours before showtime.

“We want to try and bring a little bit of home to our service members,” said Kellie Pickler, known for her song “Red high heels.” “This, as always, is the least that we can do to give back to the people who give so much to us.”

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Martina McBride fans in Nashville are partnering with Madison Heights Baptist Church in Madison, TN, Baughman Media Works, Republic Records, and Little Pink Books to provide Christmas stockings to chemotherapy patients in cancer centers in the state of Tennessee and around the United States. The inspiration for the campaign is McBride’s latest release, “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” which tells the story of a young woman with cancer.

The stockings will be filled with comfort items needed by patients going through cancer treatment. In Nashville, the fan group “Team Martina” will be delivering the stockings in the hospitals this Christmas. Fans in 11 states and Canada are also joining in the effort to provide and deliver stockings to patients in other areas of the country. In October, Team Martina, a group of 38 of her fan club members, raised over $22,000 to be donated to the American Cancer Society for breast cancer research.

If you would like to support the effort please go to http://www.teammartina.com or http://www.operationlove.net

Duo Thompson Square took time away from touring on November 19, to work on board the 69th Annual CSX Santa Train, physically giving out over 15 tons of toys to children and families in the coal mining towns of the Appalachian Mountaints across Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. The duo joined over 100 volunteers as they traveled 110 miles through the hills of Appalachia, beginning in Pikeville, KY and ending in Kingsport, TN. They ended the day with performance in Kingsport.

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The theme for this month’s ACM “My Cause” is “National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.” Brett Eldredge is the artist involved and chose to support The Alzheirmer’s Foundation of America. Their mission is “to provide optimal care and services to individuals confronting dementia, and to their caregivers and families—through member organizations dedicated to improving quality of life.” Donations help fund their toll-free helpline with resources and referrals, respite care grants, grants for member organizations that provide direct care and support, educational conferences, national initiatives such as National Memory Screening Day, professional education and training, and AFA Teens. In addition, through strategic partnerships, AFA funds research for medical treatment and a cure.

To donate to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America or to learn more, click here.

For more information about ACM “My Cause” click here.

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Craig Campbell is getting ready for Christmas and taking a moment to give back as he releases the holiday classic, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” Produced by Keith Stegall, the song is heartfelt and timely as our nation’s troops continue to make their way home. Starting today, fans can download the song HERE and support a worthy cause, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Wounded Warrior Project™.

“’I’ll Be Home For Christmas’ is one of my all time favorite Christmas songs and being on the road a lot makes this song mean that much more to me”. Campbell continues, “I am so proud to support the Wounded Warrior Project™ so that a portion of the proceeds benefit those soldiers making their way stateside and will be home this Christmas. They are the true heroes of our time”.

In addition, Campbell recently filmed a music video for “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”. The clip features footage of our American soldiers returning home in addition to video of Craig celebrating the holiday with wife Mindy and two young daughters, Preslee and Kinni Rose. The video can be seen on TV and online, including HERE, now and in the coming weeks.

The iconic CMA Music Festival will once again take over the Downtown Nashville campus for four days this summer, Thursday-Sunday, June 7-10, 2012. The event that USA Today calls “the crown jewel of Country Music festivals” started in 1972 as Fan Fair®. More than 40 years later, the legendary festival has become Nashville’s signature music event, which annually attracts thousands of fans from all 50 states and around the globe and has raised millions of dollars for music education in Metro Nashville Public Schools. The event will once again be filmed for an ABC Television special airing later in the summer, shining a national spotlight on both the Country Music format and Music City USA.

Five-time CMA Award winner Carrie Underwood is the first artist announced as performing on the Nightly Concerts at LP Field during CMA Music Festival. Underwood has sold more than 13 million albums; has placed 14 No. 1 singles at the top of the charts; won three CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Awards (2006-2008); and has co-hosted the CMA Awards for the last four consecutive years. After winning “American Idol” in 2005, she made one of her first public appearances at CMA Music Festival, and has been a strong supporter of the event ever since. Underwood last performed at CMA Music Festival in 2010.

Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks.

“Normally we do not announce talent until February, but we wanted to be sure everyone knew that Carrie has already committed to perform at 2012 CMA Music Festival,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “She continues to be one of our most requested artists, and we knew the fans would want to be aware so they could go ahead and make plans to attend our event.”

Music City based nonprofit Women Rock For The Cure™ is partnering with popular local music venue The Listening Room Cafe on Monday, November 14 for the venue’s signature “Sound Good Do Good” event to help raise funds and awareness for young adults fighting and surviving breast cancer.

The Listening Room will sound off pink with an intimate writers round featuring some of Nashville’s finest artists and songwriters, including Bonnie Baker, Lisa Carver, Coldwater Jane, Stephanie Lambring, Caitlin Lynn, Mark Irwin and Kate York. Tickets are $10 and available online now at listeningroomcafe.com or at the door night of the show. Show starts at 6pm.

“We are honored to team up with the Listening Room for this fun evening,” says Women Rock For The Cure Co-President and Founder Jensen Arrowsmith. “There is a magic about music that brings people together and what better way to help connect and support young adults fighting and surviving breast cancer than through the power of music.”

All of the proceeds will benefit Women Rock For The Cure to help support the organization’s community outreach programs, including the Young Survivors Retreat, which brings together young adults nationwide who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

For additional information, please visit www.womenrockforthecure.org

On November 10, Best Buy Mobile and the GRAMMY Foundation® continued their mission to help enrich schools in need, teaming up to donate $5,000 to Centennial High School in Franklin, TN. As a special surprise for students, Best Buy Mobile and the GRAMMY Foundation arranged for a surprise visit from Rascal Flatts to speak to students about the importance of music education.

“Music was a vital part of the guys and my young lives, particularly in school,” said Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts. “We are honored to be a part of what we feel is one of the most important programs for developing and recognizing talent in our youth.”

“The GRAMMY Foundation is very fortunate to be partnering with Best Buy to expand our music education programs by leveraging Best Buy’s philanthropic @15 platform and Best Buy Mobile resources,” said Kristen Madsen, Sr. Vice President of the GRAMMY Foundation. “The Best Buy Children’s Foundation has pledged nearly $1 million in overall support of the GRAMMY Foundation, and their corporate generosity is increasing our overall ability to support school music programs across the country.”

Best Buy Mobile’s expansion and commitment to the state of Tennessee is highlighted by the recent opening of the company’s 250th specialty store. In addition to the most smartphones under one roof, Best Buy Mobile offers an array of services aimed at improving customers’ experience, including Walk Out Working, Upgrade Checker, Happy 24 and a full array of accessories for customers to protect and personalize their device.

Trisha Yearwood (right) works alongside Rosalynn Carter during Habitat for Humanity’s 2011 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project in  Haiti.

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood swung hammers with Habitat for Humanity in Haiti this week. They were among the 500 volunteers who helped to build 100 homes in partnership with families affected by the 2010 earthquake. The build is a part of the 28th annual Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project.

The 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti in January 2010 caused widespread devastation, destroying 105,000 homes. Habitat’s Carter Work Project is being held in Haiti in 2011 and 2012 to build homes and raise awareness of the need for ongoing support for Haiti’s recovery.

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Opry members Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood with special guest Alabama performed on The Grand Ole Opry® presented by Humana® tonight. Earlier today for the first-time ever, the Opry stage was the setting for a #1 celebration. The party recognized Paisley’s “Old Alabama,” with Alabama, and his duet with Underwood, “Remind Me.”

Additional superstars performing at the Opry this month include Martina McBride, Kellie Pickler, Lauren Alaina, and Ronnie Milsap on Oct., 22, as the Opry joins Women Rock For The Cure™ in the fight against breast cancer with its third annual “Opry Goes Pink” shows. $5 from each ticket sold for the night’s two shows will benefit Women Rock For The Cure™. A portion of the night’s first show will broadcast live on GAC at 8 p.m. Central.

The star-packed celebration month continues with Opry performances by Charlie Daniels Band, Clint Black, Keith Urban, Lee Greenwood, Little Big Town, and more.

The Grand Ole Opry® is presented by Humana®. Opry performances are held every weekend of the year, and the Tuesday Night Opry continues through Dec. 13.

Librarians at the Reading Public Library in Reading, PA have announced that Taylor Swift has donated 6,000 books to the library. Swift is a native of nearby Wyomissing, PA.

Swift partnered with publisher Scholastic Inc. to donate the books, and the titles were chosen by local librarians. Books donated by Swift were given a white star on the spine to recognize Swift’s star status, and a sticker inside recognizing that she purchased them. The books include fiction and nonfiction for children and teens, and picture books for younger patrons, among others.

Not only will they give youngsters more books to choose from, but with Swift’s popularity, they will motivate more children and teens to read, said Bronwen Gamble, library assistant director. “She adds the coolness factor to reading,” Gamble said. Library Director Frank Kasprowicz said the donation is the largest made to the library in recent years.

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From Left to Right: Craig Campbell, Dierks Bentley, Charles Kelley (Lady A)

From this past Sunday 10/16 at Dierks Bentley‘s Miles and Music for Kids Charity Event. Celebs and Fans took a motorcycle ride from the Harley Davidson dealership in Columbia, TN to Downtown Nashville, followed by a concert including Dierks, Josh Thompson, Craig Campbell and many more. Celeb Riders included Dierks Bentley, Bucky Covington, Charles Kelley, Craig Campbell, Kevin Fowler, and The Warren Brothers. The event raised over $200,000 for the Monroe Carroll Jr Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital!

Country music superstar Carrie Underwood worked alongside hundreds of volunteers on Friday, where her C.A.T.S. Foundation – Checotah Animal, Town, and School Foundation – and national non-profit KaBOOM!, built a new playground in one day at Marshall Elementary School in Carrie’s hometown of Checotah, Oklahoma.

Underwood and the other volunteers assembled the child-designed playground from scratch in less than eight hours with the help of KaBOOM! and more than 200 volunteers on Friday, Oct. 14. Volunteers gathered for a kickoff ceremony at 8:30 a.m. and completed the playground project in time for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2:30 p.m.

Underwood created C.A.T.S. Foundation in 2009 as a means to give back to her hometown of Checotah, OK. Since its inception, C.A.T.S. Foundation has contributed to the local community in many ways, including donating $117,000 in instruments to the school’s music program (with ACM Lifting Lives), rebuilding the local animal shelter, and making contributions to other local groups in need.

“We had the most amazing day putting together something truly special for the kids – and the community,” said Underwood. “I’m so proud that so many volunteered their time to be here today.”

During the course of the day, Underwood painted a mural, planted vegetation and assembled several playground components, including a Horse Spring Rider and a Tree House Barrier. In total, volunteers mixed and moved more than 12,000 pounds of concrete and moved 43,740 square feet of safety surfacing by hand – enough to cover nearly 10 NBA-sized basketball courts. The new 2,500 square-foot playground includes equipment for children of all ages, including a 360 degree spiral slide, a tree house climber and a tire swing.

“On behalf of the Marshall Elementary students and staff, I would like to thank Carrie Underwood for her generous donation to KaBOOM!, which made this playground project possible,” said Jann Ledbetter, Marshall Elementary Principal. “It is particularly special for us because this was Carrie’s elementary school. At Marshall we believe that play is of the utmost importance in the physical, mental and social development of young children. We are incredibly grateful to the C.A.T.S. Foundation, KaBOOM!, and community and parent volunteers who have come together in making our dream playground a reality. Together we have positively affected our current and future student’s lives for the better.”

Planning for the playground began at a Design Day event held in August when local children and community leaders met with organizers from the C.A.T.S. Foundation and KaBOOM! to design their dream playground. The children’s drawings were then used to create the final playground design.

KaBOOM! is a national non-profit organization dedicated to saving play. For 15 years, KaBOOM! has been fighting the Play Deficit, and this project is one of more than 150 playground builds KaBOOM! will lead across the country in 2011 in an effort to provide a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

“We’re thrilled that C.A.T.S. Foundation and KaBOOM! share the same commitment of fighting the play deficit among children by bringing communities together to build playgrounds,” said Darell Hammond, KaBOOM! Founder and CEO and author of The New York Times Best Seller KaBOOM!: How One Man Built a Movement to Save Play. “Thanks to Carrie’s C.A.T.S. Foundation, children in Checotah now have a terrific new playground and KaBOOM! moved one step closer to our vision of a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.”

Find more information on the C.A.T.S Foundation HERE.
Find more information on KaBOOM HERE.

CMA Awards nominee Luke Bryan wrapped his third annual, “Farm Tour” over the weekend and performed for nearly 42,000 fans in the 6 cities-Clemson, South Carolina and Athens, Macon, Claxton, Valdosta and Carrollton, Georgia.

Local schools in all six towns will receive a “Luke Bryan Farm Tour Scholarship,” which will be given to a student from a farming family who is in financial need.
Those colleges include:
Seneca, SC – Clemson University
Colbert, GA – University of Georgia
Macon, GA – Mercer University
Claxton, GA – Georgia Southern University
Valdosta, GA – Valdosta State University
Carrollton, GA – University of West Georgia

Great American Country’s “Top 20” and “Headline Country” shows were filmed during the Claxton show on Oct. 5. “GAC’s “Top 20” is set to air this Friday, Oct. 14 and “Headline Country” will air Thursday, Nov 3. Also on Oct. 5, Luke was surprised with a plaque signifying that his current album tailgates & tanlines has been certified Gold® by the RIAA for sales of 500,000. He also received a plaque for his first Platinum® single for sales of 1 million— the album’s lead smash hit “Country Girl (Shake It For Me),” which Luke co-wrote with fellow Georgian Dallas Davidson.

The idea for the “Farm Tour” concerts came from Luke as a way to give back to local farming communities by celebrating and lifting up the American Farmer and offering a fun escape with the outdoor shows. DEKALB was the presenting sponsor.