NASHVILLE FLOOD RELIEF

Thousands of homes and businesses were damaged by the Nashville flood in early May, and Music City, including the many artists who call it home, rose up with a rapid response, performing at benefit concerts and even donating funds from their own pockets to help in relief efforts. Taylor Swift set the bar for generosity by giving $500,000 to the “Flood Relief with Vince Gill and Friends” telethon, broadcast locally in Nashville on WSMV-TV.

• CMA – On behalf of the artists and celebrities who play CMA Music Festival for free, CMA donated half the net proceeds from the 2010 Festival to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee for its flood relief efforts. With half of the proceeds already earmarked to public schools for music education through CMA’s Keep the Music Playing program, the total donated to each charity was $1.45 million. The Festival also infused $23 million in much-needed tourist revenue into the local economy during the four-day event.
• GARTH BROOKS came out of retirement to play nine sold-out, full-band shows at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and donated the $3 million raised to The Community Foundation.
• FAITH HILL and TIM MCGRAW did their part, hosting “Nashville Rising: A Benefit Concert for Flood Recovery” at Bridgestone Arena, featuring an all-star lineup, which donated $2.2 million to The Community Foundation. Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Sandra Bullock, Miley Cyrus, Amy Grant, Miranda Lambert, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes, Michael W. Smith, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood made appearances.
• GAC teamed up with the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Gaylord Entertainment and an incredible lineup of artists to present: “Music City Keep on Playin’ – A Benefit for Flood Relief.” The Ryman Auditorium concert, hosted by James Denton and Kimberly Williams-Paisley, and telethon generated more than $1.8 million in donations. Rodney Atkins, Dierks Bentley, Sheryl Crow, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Randy Montana, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler and Keith Urban, among others, participated in the event.
• LADY ANTEBELLUM streamed on their Web site as well as livestream.com for a minimum $5 donation their sold-out fan club party in Nashville to raise money for the city's flood relief efforts.
• OPRY TRUST FUND – Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Alan Jackson, The Judds, Jake Owen, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker and more donated memorabilia for an Opry Trust Fund auction to benefit flood relief.
• DOLLY PARTON donated one weekend’s net admission proceeds from her Dollywood and Dixie Stampede properties in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., to flood relief efforts in the Nashville area.
• JIMMY WAYNE partnered with Bryan Foods to bring more than two tons of food to Second Harvest Food Bank to help feed those displaced by the floods. Country duo Coldwater Jane helped Second Harvest sort food at their facility for flood victims.