Dierks Bentley’s Miles And Music For Kids got started at Harley Davidson in Cool Springs, TN, Sunday, October 11. It was a beautiful day, and Dierks got it going by introducing some VIPs, starting with a pediatrician from Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, who thanked the large crowd and assured everyone that this event will definitely change children’s lives for the better. Then Dierks said that the goal of the event was to ease the financial burdens of families with sick children so they can concentrate on their kids getting well. Wynonna Judd, Troy Gentry, and others were there to ride, and after a short prayer, the motorcycles took off, with Dierks leading the way.

I didn’t ride, as I can’t comment on that part of the day, except to say that everybody seemed to make it to the concert in one piece! The concert was at the riverfront, and Wynonna, Darius Rucker, Eric Church (even with a broken foot), Stoney LaRue, Michelle Branch, and some members of Three Doors Down performed. Wynonna and Darius especially got the crowd into it! Darius even did a rendition of “Purple Rain”. And of course, Dierks and his band performed and were great! Several items were auctioned off in between songs, such as a Predators hockey stick and a signed Telecaster guitar. The total came to $215,000 for the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. Dierks presented the check on stage to some children from the hospital and their families, and it made for a heartwarming conclusion to a great day.

This was Dierks’ 4th Miles And Music For Kids, and if you like great country music, motorcycles, and/or helping kids, I would recommend you attend in the future. This year, he is also doing this event in other cities across the country.

The night before, some of the Dierks Bentley Congress got together and signed over 80 Get Well cards for the kids at the Hospital on behalf of Miles And Music and the DB Congress.. They were delivered on Monday by one of our Kentucky reps, David.

Dierks Bentley Congress Rep (KY), Lee Ann Miller sent CMC this great review and pictures. It sounds like a ton of fun and we hope to make it out for a great cause next year.

Jake Owen & his Fan Club are working together to help in the fight against breast cancer. A few weeks ago one of Jake’s fan club members wrote a blog about her battle with the disease. The fan club gave her an out pouring of support. Jake and his team set up a place to donate to the cause as well as turn the home page to his new fan club pink!  This story really warmed our hearts & reminded us how proud we are to be Country music fans. Country Music Cares do you?

When the mother of Grammy-winning singer and musician Kathy Mattea, as pictured above, succumbed more and more to the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease a few years ago, “music became our last connection,” according to Mattea.It is only fitting then that the country music star sang  from the deepest recesses of her heart on October 9 when she and other country artists performed to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease at the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s inaugural “For the Love of George” event at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. Katie Armiger, Lani Nash, Mindy Smith and Emily West also preformed. West and Tom Randles, an anchor at WSMV-TV, served as emcees for the event, which also included a wine tasting, cocktail reception, silent auction and candle lighting ceremony to remember individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Mattea  performed her heartrending hit “Where’ve You Been”—a song that, she said, makes her “think about certain moments with her own mother and other people who have had similar experiences.” Her mother, Ruth Ann (Legg) Mattea, died of complications from Alzheimer’s disease in 2005“I am thrilled to be invited to bring music to this gathering and support those trying to make a better life for individuals and families dealing with Alzheimer’s disease,” Mattea noted.

EmilyWest,as pictured above, has also embraced the cause with a passion. Her grandmother had dementia and passed away in the summer of 2008.“I wish I knew back then more about the disease to be more patient and loving to her. It was hard to watch her face transform into an overly exhausted expression from all the anger and confusion going on,” said West, who, coincidentally, appeared that same night on a re-run of “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader” on CMT, in which she won $25,000 for AFA, her charity of choice.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in New York and made up of 1,200 member organizations that provide hands-on programs to meet the educational, emotional, practical and social needs of families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses. AFA’s services include a toll-free hot line, counseling, educational materials, a free caregiver magazine, and professional training. For information, call (toll-free) 866-AFA-8484 or visit www.alzfdn.org.                                               

Bid now on autographed backpacks to benefit CMT One Country!

Here’s some info about the auctions:

About The Auction
This Lands’ End backpack was waiting backstage at the 2009 CMT Music Awards Show for participating artists and celebrities to autograph so it could be auctioned exclusively on CMTauctions for the benefit of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. Provided in lieu of celebrity gift bags, this was a way for artists to make a contribution towards feeding hungry children in Middle Tennessee.

Who This Auction Benefits
Proceeds from this auction will benefit CMT One Country’s charitable partner Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. To learn more about CMT One Country and its partners, visit CMTOneCountry.com.

Click the links below to bid:

B 52 – Blue Backpack

B 52 - Orange Backpack

B 52 - Purple Backpack

B 52 - Red Backpack

Bill Engvall

Carter Twins

Eli Young Band

Julianne Hough

Lady Antebellum

Mark Ballas

Melissa Peterman

Terry Fator

This holiday season you can purchase this CD for only $5 & benefit Kohl’s Cares for Kids!

 Track listing:

* Winter Wonderland – Brooks & Dunn
* Do You Hear What I Hear – Carrie Underwood
* Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – Alan Jackson
* Santa Baby – Kellie Pickler
* O Little Town of Bethlehem – Kenny Chesney
* White Christmas – Martina McBride
* Away in the Manger – Brad Paisley
* Please Come Home for Christmas – Keith Anderson
* O Come All Ye Faithful – Sara Evans
* O Holy Night – Lonestar
* The First Noel – Patty Loveless
* Silent Night – Johnny Cash

* Details:
o Exclusively at Kohl’s!
o By Sony Music Entertainment

Tune into the season with this Kohl’s Presents Christmas in the Country CD.

100% of the net profit from the sale of these items will support health and educational opportunities for children nationwide. Visit Kohl’s corporate site to learn more about Kohl’s Cares for Kids®.

Purchase a copy today at your local Kohl’s store or online!

Information for post from Kohls.com

Trace Adkins recently helped to rebuild the home of a wounded police officer in Lancaster, Texas. The officer was severely injured in 2007 when he was shot in the neck while leading a SWAT team on a narcotics bust. He has lost all hearing and a great deal of his mobility. The rebuild of the house will enable him and his family a more comfortable home, as well as allowing them to continue their own volunteer work. After the rebuild the family can continue their work with therapy horses for mentally disalbed or injured children and adults. Props for Trace for not being afraid to jump in & get his hands dirty! Kellie Pickler also appeared recently on the show.

The brand new episode will air tonight on ABC at 8 (ET). You don’t want to miss it!

Information for post from CMT.

Photo from http://traceadkins.com

The T.J. Martell Foundation issues today the organization’s first ever Music Industry Challenge in support of the upcoming 2nd annual Dunkin’ Donuts Family Fun Run & Walk-A-Thon on November 7, 2009 at Centennial Park.  The challenge is simple; the foundation would like to see which fine Music Industry Company can form the largest team for this 5K race, raising the most funds to benefit the T.J. Martell Foundation. Like any true challenge, the leading teams will be rewarded with some sweet prizes during the competition and the team with the largest number of people from the music industry will win a hot and delicious Dunkin’ Donuts breakfast bash for up to 24 employees and the one and only music industry team trophy.”The T.J. Martell Foundation has always been deeply rooted in the music industry through the efforts of founder Tony Martell,” says T.J. Martell Board President Tony Conway.  “This new Music Industry Challenge keeps the tradition going by having the Row involved in a big way for cancer research.  The inaugural Dunkin’ Donuts Family Fun Run was a huge success last year and this year promises to be even bigger and better. Teams already on board include Creative Artists Agency, Universal Music Group Nashville, Wortman Works, Country Music Television (CMT), BMI, Buddy Lee Attractions, This Music and Crownover Tisinger.  To register your team of individuals, log on to www.funrunandwalk.com and click on the Active.com icon.  When you register, make sure to answer the question “Are you running or walking as a group, team or company?”  List your team name for each individual on the team so we can keep up with your team count.  The early bird registration is only $25 before November 5.Hosted by Eddie and Taj George and Family, the event will feature performances by popular tween acts pureNRG, Madison Cain and actor/singer Luke Benward plus a family picnic complete with Dunkin’ Donuts, Baskin Robbins Ice Cream, a Cookout by Applebee’s and other food samplings from Maggiano’s Little Italy.  There will also be games galore for the kids including the inflatables, bungees, face painting, clowns, balloon artists and much more.  Proceeds will benefit the T.J. Martell Foundation’s mission of funding innovative cancer research at the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. 

The St. Louis Cardinals baseball jersey (pictured above) was signed by Carrie Underwood. Carrie was given Authentic commemorative jerseys at many venues by various sports team, and by fans when she toured last year, so she is signing them and giving fans a chance to bid on the to raise money for The Checotah Animal, Town and School Foundation,C.A.T.S. All money will go directly to the foundation and will be used solely for the purpose of maintaining projects of the C.A.T.S. Foundation. C.A.T.S was set up by Carrie earlier this year as a way to give back to her home town of Checotah, Oklahoma. If you would like to bid on the jersey you my do so here. If you would like to know if Carrie will be signing a jersey by your favorite team follow her foundation on facebook.

Women Rock For The Cure launches eBay auction today as part of the group’s efforts to raise awareness and support during October; breast cancer awareness month.  Up for bid will be several hot ticket items, including a Carrie Underwood autographed Daisy Rock Guitar and a one-of-a-kind PRS Guitar autographed by several legends who performed at this year’s Opry Goes Pink concert; autographed Mindy Smith, Jason Aldean and Montgomery Gentry guitars; a custom Sherwood B dress worn by Veronica Ballestrini during the Third Annual Women For The Cure Benefit Concert; autographed posters by Mindy Smith, Caitlin Lynn, Jason Aldean and much more.  Keep watch on the site as new coveted items – such as signed guitars by Keith Urban and Little Big Town – will be continually added throughout the month of October.  Items can be viewed and bid on at http://myworld.ebay.com/womenrockforthecure.  All proceeds from the auction to benefit Women Rock For The Cure and Greater Nashville Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  The funds raised by the Komen Race for the Cure® Series help support breast cancer research grants, meritorious awards, and community outreach programs.  The Komen foundation raises awareness for the fight against breast cancer, celebrates breast cancer survivorship, and honors those who have lost their battle with the disease.  For additional information on Women Rock For The Cure, visit www.womenrockforthecure.org

 Mallary Hope will be playing a show in Dalton GA. on Nov. 10th.  All of the proceeds from this show will be  going to the American Cancer Society. Tickets are $10 for General admission and $25 for reserved seating, this will also include a autograph signing with Mallary at the end of the show. The reserved seating is very limited and can be order by calling 706-278-1960. Kudos to Mallary for being brand new to country music, but already finding ways to help others!  Keep up the amazing work! For more information about Mallary Hope or to check out her debut single visit her official site, here.

Jason has two tickets and meet and greets on ebay. All of the money raised for the tickets will go to The Monroe Carell Jr. Childrens Hospital at Vanderbilt. The tickets are already up to 600 dollars! The winner of the tickets can pick between the following shows in November
West Plains, Missouri on 11/5
Kearney, Nebraska on 11/6
Fort Scott, Kansas on 11/7
Hattiesburg, Mississippi on 11/12
Bossier City, Louisiana on 11/13
Southaven, Mississippi on 11/14
Kenansville, North Carolina on 11/19
Johnson City, Tennessee on 11/20
Florence, South Carolina on 11/21

To place your bid click here

Country Music Stars and Songwriter will be having a weekend of fun, sun and sand in Cancun, and they are inviting you to join them. This will be a weekend of celebrity auctions, receptions, volleyball,celebrity bartending, karaoke, and private concerts. This is a all “all inclusive” for meals, lodging, tips, transfers, all of the above and much more. The stars that are set to preform are Chris Young, Trent Willmon,Wade Hayes,Jim Quick and Coastline,Tim Nichols,Jon Stone, and the headliners are Montgomery Gentry! The money that is raised will go to T.J. Martell Foundation, a foundation that raise money for Cancer and AIDS research. To learn more about Country on the Beach or to book your trip click here.