When “Music City Keep On Playin’- A Benefit For Flood Relief” was presented by GAC, the stars as well as American people and numerous companies gave in a very big way.
Among the artists delivering almost 20 songs during the three hour special live from Ryman Auditorium in Nashville were Dierks Bentley, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban and Brad Paisley. Over $1.7 million was raised by the event by midnight Central Time.
“Music City Keep On Playin’” is the first fundraiser organized on a national basis to help victims that were devastated by the floods that two weeks ago engulfed most of Nashville. In just 48 hours, Nashville received rain of over 13 inches. The ground of Middle Tennessee was unable to absorb all the water and the Cumberland River exceeded its banks. Some of Nashville’s most famous landmarks were damaged, including Country Music Hall of Fame, Bridgestone Arena, LP Field and the Grand Ole Opry House.
The rushing tides took cars over dangerous streams. One school portable building even got washed across the interstate. Over 1,000 water rescues were undertaken. Many residents of Nashville, including Jeannie Seely, Opry member, lost their homes, with a few people losing their lives. However the city was able to come together. Many Nashville residents visited other neighborhoods and helped strangers sort through their remaining belongings.
Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum said on the Ryman stage, it was beautiful seeing how the city rallied together. I know we’ll get the city back to where it once was. I know it.
Brad and Kimberly Williams-Paisley co-hosted the special along with James Denton, Nashville resident and actor from “Desperate Housewives” and also kicked off the night by making a donation of $100,000. Brad also contributed three songs during the evening- “River In the Rain” by Roger Miller, “American Saturday Night,” and “Welcome To The Future.” There were also appearances from country singers Randy Montana, Rodney Atkins, Kellie Pickler and Martina McBride.
The show also incorporated performances from artists exemplifying the stylistic range from Music City, including Sheryl Crow, pop singer, CeCe Winans, gospel singer, Jaci Velasquez, contemporary Christian artist, Will Hoge, Americana act, and one of the newest residents of Nashville Keb’ Mo’, acoustic blues performer.
Throughout the evening many songs took on new meanings. The opening line from Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now,” and its reference of “picture perfect memories scattered on the floor” reminded listeners of residents who had lost their family photos. “Anyway” by Martina McBride was quite appropriate with “one storm could come and blow it all away.”
Many of the night’s stars, when they weren’t appearing on stage took donations from the phone bank. They were joined by Karl Dean, Mayor of Nashville, Katie Armiger, Bomshel, Holly Williams, Whitney Duncan, Marty Raybon, Julie Roberts, Dailey & Vincent, Lee Roy Parnell, Joey+Rory, Billy Dean, Nicole Kidman, Lorrie Morgan and many others.
It was symbolic the Ryman was the special’s home. The stage at the Grand Ole Opry House was destroyed after taking over four feet worth of water. However part of the venue, a wood circle that was carried from the Ryman in the early 1970s when the Opry House got constructed, survived the flood. Once it dries out it will be returned to its place on the refurbished stage of the Opry House. There is a lot of history carried with the circle.
On that small piece of turf, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash and Hank Williams made historic appearances on its original Ryman location. While in the Opry House, it provided the footing for Opry stars like Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks and Carrie Underwood.
While the Opry House is being renovated, the radio show is rotating through several interim venues including the Ryman ,Two Rivers Baptist Church and War Memorial Auditorium.
Nan Kelley, GAC host said, The Opry did not miss a beat. But we do have a long ways to go.
“Music City Keep On Playin’- A Benefit For Flood Relief” still is taking online donations at www.gactv.com/help. Or you can donate $10 from your mobile phone by texting GAC to 501501.
The concert will be On Demand via satellite or cable services through May 22 where available.
