Carrie Underwood made wishes come true this holiday season for the schools in her hometown of Checotah, Oklahoma with donations amounting to $350,000 through her C.A.T.S. Foundation – Checotah Animal, Town, and School Foundation. Each of the four schools – Marshall Elementary, Checotah Intermediate School, Checotah Middle School, and Checotah High School – learned just in time for Christmas that they would receive the necessary funds from C.A.T.S. to fulfill various school needs. The donations will go towards items such as new computer labs for each school, plus playground equipment, physical fitness equipment, as well as new band uniforms, furniture, storage, instruments for their music programs, among other items.

“Late last year each of the schools created a list of their needs and I am so thrilled that the C.A.T.S. Foundation was able to fund it all,” said Underwood. “It gives me great joy knowing we are helping my hometown schools to offer an even better education to the students. They deserve it.”

“We are so proud of Carrie and her accomplishments and we appreciate everything she has done for our students. Every student in our school will benefit from the C.A.T.S. Foundation’s generous donation,” shared Toni Brown, Assistant Superintendent of Checotah Public Schools.

In addition, this past October, Underwood’s C.A.T.S. Foundation partnered with national non-profit organization KaBOOM!, and with the help of over 200 local volunteers built a playground in one day at Marshall Elementary School designed by the school’s students.

About C.A.T.S. Foundation – Checotah Animal, Town, and School Foundation
Established in 2009 by country superstar Carrie Underwood, the C.A.T.S. Foundation was created to help with general causes, needs, and services in the area of Checotah, OK, to directly impact her hometown community. In August of 2009, C.A.T.S. Foundation partnered with ACM Lifting Lives to donate over $117,000 in new instruments for Checotah’s school music programs. In 2010, C.A.T.S. helped in the rebuilding of Checotah’s animal shelter, Happy Paws. For more information on C.A.T.S. Foundation, or to make a donation, please visit www.thecatsfoundation.com.

Lynyrd Skynyrd will headline the third annual Music City New Year’s Eve “Bash on Broadway” concert in downtown Nashville. The event includes feature performances from Edens Edge, THE FARM and Jeffrey Steele.

“People expect world-class live entertainment from Nashville, and they certainly won’t be disappointed with this show,” said Butch Spyridon, president of the CVB. “The diversity of musical acts will provide a perfect backdrop for locals and visitors to ring in the New Year in Music City.”

Revelers attending Music City’s “Bash on Broadway” will count down to the New Year as a new 15-foot-tall red “music note®,” drops slowly from a 115-foot structure, taller than in previous events. The “music note®” drop, presented by Grand Avenue, will trigger a fireworks display and major confetti cannons as it reaches the midnight mark.

“We felt the new music note best represented the diversity of talents and genres that call Nashville home,” said Spyridon. “Music City has gained its reputation due to the artists, songwriters, musicians, producers, managers and promoters who call Nashville home. The music note is the best graphic to represent Nashville.”

The confetti cannons are also new this year and are done in partnership with the TJ Martell Foundation. The Foundation, which supports innovative and lifesaving research for cancer and AIDS, will be selling ‘wishes’ to revelers throughout the evening for donations as part of its national “My New Year’s Wish” campaign. Revelers can put their wishes for the New Year on a strip of paper, and literally see their wishes begin the New Year as they are released as part of the confetti cannon at midnight. The local Wish campaign is sponsored by Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery.

The show, which is free to the public, will take place on Broadway between 1st and 4th avenues beginning at 7:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. The show, will be broadcast live to a national audience on Sirius XM Radio, CNN and streamed on CNN.com. The show will be emceed by Storme Warren, host of GAC’s Headline Country and Sirius XM Radio personality.

For additional details on the event go to visitmusiccity.com/newyearseve.

It’s time again for our annual Christmas Kid Auctions! This is your chance to own items from some of your favorite country stars and also help children have a better Christmas! Any of the items that are autographed are 100% authentic. The items were either signed in person or obtained from the artist’s management, etc. Some of the items are personal items that I donate. I donate the item and the auction fees. The only money that does not go directly to the kids is the shipping & handling fees. For more information on Christmas Kids please visit: http://countrymusiccares.net/christmaskids

CMA Fest Grand Ole Opry Program
All Star Weekend Grand Ole Opry Program
Soul Surfer Post Card
Soul Surfer Hat
Luke Bryan *AUTOGRAPHED* Tailgates & Tanlines CD
Sara Evans *AUTOGRAPHED* Stronger CD
Craig Morgan Opry Induction Program
45th Annual CMA Awards Program Book
Jason Aldean *AUTOGRAPHED* 8×10
Ours Single Taylor Swift
Luke Bryan *AUTOGRAPHED* Doin’ My Thing CD
Laura Bell Bundy *AUTOGRAPHED* 8×10
Love & Theft *AUTOGRAPHED* World Wide Open CD
Taylor Swift Guitar Pick Set
Carrie Underwood Opry Trading Card
Lauren Alaina *AUTOGRAPHED* Wildflower CD

Auction Total: $121.43
(Updated on 12/19/11 @ 8:30 PM

Chevrolet has joined forces with the Country Music Association to shine a light on music education by partnering with Keep the Music Playing, CMA’s music education initiative. To kick off their partnership with Keep the Music Playing, Chevrolet and CMA are auctioning off a brand new 2012 Camaro convertible – just like the car that was on the Red Carpet at the 2011 CMA Awards. In addition, the lucky bidder will also receive the actual hood of the 2012 Camaro which features dozens of autographs from stars who attended “The 45th Annual CMA Awards” in Nashville (Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011). This exclusive 2012 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS and piece of Country Music history will be the pride of the highest bidder! Bids are accepted through May 1, 2012, with proceeds benefiting CMA’s “Keep the Music Playing” program, which puts musical instruments into the hands of students who need them.

Four-time CMA Awards hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood signed the hood, with Paisley starting the campaign live on “Good Morning American” (Nov. 8, 2011). Paisley playfully added the message, “Drive Fast” to his autograph line. Additional autographs from stars and celebrities including: Alabama, Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Deborah Allen, Lynn Anderson, TV personality Erin Andrews, Katie Armiger, Rodney Atkins, media personality Glenn Beck, Natasha Bedingfield, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Laura Bell Bundy, Sam Bush, Craig Campbell, Deana Carter, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Easton Corbin, Billy Currington, actor Josh Dallas, Edens Edge, Eli Young Band, Sara Evans, Brantley Gilbert, actress Ginnifer Goodwin, Hunter Hayes, Faith Hill, the JaneDear girls, actress Nicole Kidman, Jana Kramer, Lady Antebellum, TV personality Sandra Lee, Little Big Town, actor Kellan Lutz, Loretta Lynn, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, Tim McGraw, Montgomery Gentry, Justin Moore, David Nail, Matt Nathanson, John Oates, James Otto, Jake Owen, Kimberly Williams Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Grace Potter, Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes, Darius Rucker, Brian Setzer, Steel Magnolia, actor Eric Stonestreet, Sugarland, The Band Perry, Thompson Square, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Clay Walker, Chris Young, and Zac Brown Band.

Bid HERE for your chance to own this one-of-a-kind piece of Country Music memorabilia. The signed hood is yours and you get to pick the color of your choice for the Chevrolet Camaro 2SS convertible.

It’s time again for our annual Christmas Kid Auctions! This is your chance to own items from some of your favorite country stars and also help children have a better Christmas! Any of the items that are autographed are 100% authentic. The items were either signed in person or obtained from the artist’s management, etc. Some of the items are personal items that I donate. I donate the item and the auction fees. The only money that does not go directly to the kids is the shipping & handling fees. For more information on Christmas Kids please visit: http://countrymusiccares.net/christmaskids

Taylor Swift Beautiful Eyes EP/DVD
Soul Surfer Post Card
Chris Young *AUTOGRAPHED* Neon CD
Because of You (Reba & Kelly Clarkson) radio promo CD
Luke Bryan *AUTOGRAPHED* I’ll Stay Me CD
45th Annual CMA Awards Program Book
Lauren Alaina *AUTOGRAPHED* 8×10
Kellie Pickler *AUTOGRAPHED* 8×10
David Nail *AUTOGRAPHED* 8×10
Luke Bryan *AUTOGRAPHED* Program ACM New Artist Showcase
All Star Weekend Grand Ole Opry Program
CMA Fest Grand Ole Opry Program
The Band Perry *AUTOGRAPHED* 8×10
2010 Benefit Concert *AUTOGRAPHED* 8×10 Poster
Carrie Underwood *AUTOGRAPHED* Play On
Taylor Swift *AUTOGRAPHED* Fearless Platinum

Auction Total: $304.86

More than 150 military spouses, sailors and USO volunteers will join forces to assemble thousands of Operation USO Care Packages on Friday, December 16th at Naval Station Norfolk. The event will be the 15th Jack Daniel’s USO Toast to the Troops stuffing party, and will be followed by a free concert by Army veteran and country music star Craig Morgan.

Since 2005, the Jack Daniel Distillery has been collecting personal messages of support in the form of “toasts” to include in USO care packages, and has hosted 14 other “stuffing parties,” headlined by Craig Morgan, at military installations across the country. More than 150,000 care packages have been sent to our troops through the Toast to the Troops program. The 15th Toast to the Troops stuffing party will continue the tradition of having a “thank you” barbecue for the stuffing party volunteers followed by a free base-wide concert headlined by Morgan.

“All of us at Jack Daniel’s honor and support our nation’s servicemen and women, and we are very excited to bring our Toast to the Troops program to the largest naval base in the world,” said Jennifer Powell, Senior Brand Manager for Jack Daniel’s. “We recognize and sincerely appreciate the sacrifices made by the spouses and families of our military heroes. The Toast program is just one way for us to show support to our military community.”

Ten-year Army veteran Craig Morgan has been a part of all 14 previous Jack Daniel’s/USO “Toast to the Troops” events dating back to 2005. He is a recipient of the USO Merit Award and has made nine overseas trips to entertain our U.S. troops. “I’m honored to have been part of the Toast to the Troops program since it began six years ago and it’s always inspiring for me to perform for our troops and their families,” said Morgan. “I know how much it means to receive a care package out in the field and to know that you are supported. Our troops, their spouses and families sacrifice so much, and I’m glad to get the chance to let them know how much we appreciate their efforts.”

The stuffing party will begin at 1:00 p.m. on December 16th adjacent to Devary Theater; the concert will get underway at 7:00 p.m. in the theater and is open to anyone with base access. Due to heightened security, individuals can no longer send letters and packages addressed to “Any Service Member.” The Operation USO Care Package program is the best way to send a message of encouragement directly to troops and provide a touch of home. The USO has distributed more than two million care packages since the program’s inception in 2003. More information on the Operation USO Care Package program and other USO programs can be found at www.uso.org.

For the second consecutive year, RCA Nashville recording artist Chris Young is sponsoring a special holiday tree in the Gaylord Opryland® Resorts fifth annual Hall of Trees to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, one of the world’s premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other deadly childhood diseases.

Each tree in the Hall of Trees includes major gifts donated by sponsors and is tied to a charity. Tree decorations, along with all the gifts, will be auctioned off to benefit the sponsor’s designated charity. Chris, a Country Cares for St. Jude Kids supporter, has chosen St. Jude to benefit from the proceeds of his NEON tree, which is currently on display at Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort.

“During my visit to St. Jude I met some incredible little kids who were fighting for their lives,” said Young. “I hope my fans will enjoy the NEON tree and help me raise funds for St. Jude to support its lifesaving mission.”

The NEON tree also comes with the following gifts:

- Chris Young autographed guitar

- $100 worth of iTunes gift cards

- Chris Young snow globe

- Autographed 4 pack of Chris Young CDs

- Country Strong hatch print poster autographed by Gwyneth Paltrow

- Autographed 8×10 of Miranda Lambert

- 10 inch digital picture frame

- Hand smocked baby dress & little black dress tree ornament hand made by Chris’ 83 year old grandmother

- Autographed handwritten lyrics of Chris’ current single “You”

- Neon tree ornaments

- Custom made Neon logo Chris Young sign

- Miscellaneous Sony music artist autographed CDs and 8x10s

Bids for Chris’ NEON tree may be placed here or in person at the Hall of Trees in Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Hotel through January 3.

It’s time for our 3rd annual 10 Until 10 follower drive! Two years ago Team Whit Duncan came up with a creative idea to help raise money and the support we received in the following days was overwhelming! Please join us again this year to help our Christmas Kids. If you’d like to commit to donate $0.10 per new follower please send us an @ reply on Twitter or a DM with your current follower count. If you aren’t a frequent Twitter user and would prefer to donate $0.10 per each new Facebook “like” that would be wonderful as well. Thanks in advance for your support*
**If you click this this link you can make sure you’re following all of the below users in seconds!** http://twitter.com/CntryMusicCares/ten-until-ten/members

Fan Twitters:
Carrie Underwood Fans: http://twitter.com/CUnews4Fans
Casey James Fans: http://twitter.com/#!/CaseyJames_FANS
Dustin Lynch Fans: http://twitter.com/DustinLynchFans
Luke Bryan Fans: http://twitter.com//LukeBryan_smile
Team Whit Duncan: http://twitter.com/TeamWhitDuncan

Other Participants:
Front Row News: http://twitter.com/FrontRowNews
Krystal: http://twitter.com/X3KrystalX3
Jodi Wincheski: http://twitter.com/jodiwincheski
Nixa Country Radio: http://twitter.com/NIXACOUNTRY
Shared Music Review: http://twitter.com/AuthenticSMR
Urban Country News: http://twitter.com/UrbanCountryNws

Facebook Fans – Donating $0.10 Per New Fan
http://www.facebook.com/CaseyEJamesFanClub
http://www.facebook.com/SharedMusicReview

After 12/10 the fan Twitters will personally make a donation to Christmas Kids! Signing up If you would like a tax receipt one can be provided. You can make your checks payable to “Christmas Kids” & mail them to the following address:

Christmas Kids
c/o Jennifer Graham
P.O. Box 140733
Nashville, TN 37214-0733

If you do not need a tax receipt you can make a donation via Paypal to: countrymusiccares@hotmail.com
*Please note that signed up for 10 Until 10 means that you are committing to make a donation (minimum of $10) regardless of how many followers you gain. We had an issue with individuals not making their donations last year. Please only serious participants! This is meant to be a fun way to raise awareness, not to harass people!

Oklahoma native Vince Gill has donated $12,000 to The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. The funds will help complete the construction of a state-of-the-art children’s music exhibit.

Work is nearly complete on the new children’s music exhibit, but more donations are needed for the project. The hall of fame has been raising funds for the exhibit for the past year. The music exhibit is being housed in an old railroad caboose that was donated by Muskogee War Memorial Park, and transported to the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame site.

“We can’t thank Mr. Gill enough for his generosity and we are honored that he would also step forward to issue a challenge to his fellow inductees to make a contribution, as well,” said Penny Kampf, Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame executive director, in the announcement.

“Hundreds of donors have helped to make this project a reality. Now, we need an additional financial boost so that the museum can open by the end of the year.”

The project is intended to benefit children, young and old, and features Jeremiah The Bullfrog (from the Three Dog Night smash “Joy to the World,” penned by Duncan native Hoyt Axton) as the official ‘host’ for participants. The exhibits include a station where children can build a band, listen to the differences in various musical instruments and experience Oklahoma’s rich musical heritage.

“We believe children need to understand that music comes from real people and real musical instruments — not just from electronics. The OMHOF aims to educate children about the rich history of Oklahoma music — what it means, how it moves people, and its broad cultural significance,” said Kampf in the announcement.

Source

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.”

Source

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.

Source

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.