Country Artists Get Charitable For The Holidays

Jake Owen has presented a $30,000 check to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, as well as a $33,000 check to the Mardy Fish Foundation after his fifth annual Mardy’s Tennis and Jake’s Music Fest concert in his hometown of Vero Beach, Florida. The event also featured a performance by special guests Little Big Town, who also advocate children’s charities and youth organizations. For Jake, asking the group to join the festivities was an easy decision. “That’s what we’re here for, you know? That’s what I love about them. They’re just good people,” Jake said, “We’re here to do more than music. We’re here to help, and it’s just an awesome thing that I have friends like Little Big Town, and have a community full of people that embrace our ideas and what we’re trying to do. It’s about kids. I love kids, and I want to do all I can to help.”

So how are country artists feeling about the holidays? Musically speaking, Carrie Underwood loves the holidays; she said, “‘O Holy Night’ — it’s my favorite Christmas song. I mean, it just talks about the grandness of that night, and it’s just, it’s very powerful. And it’s powerful singing it, and to me, it’s always been very powerful listening to it.” Other songs included on the 2008 special Holiday edition of Carnival Ride are "Hark, The Herald Angels Sing," "The First Noel," "What Child is This," and "Do You Hear What I Hear."

Meanwhile, Rascal Flatts splits up to spend time at home with their respective families. But even if they're far apart, Joe Don says they try to do a little holiday giving as well, “You know every once in a while Jay, Gary, and myself by gifts for each other, but now it’s more like Tiff and I will buy gifts for Gary and Tara, we’ll send a gift to Jay and Allison, just a gift of something for Xmas.” Joe Don joked, “They’ll never buy stuff for Tiff and I but that’s alright.” Rascal Flatts have teamed up with an electronics retailer and the Grammy Foundation this holiday season to encourage the purchase of certain products which will lead to a donation of up to $825,000 to the Grammy Foundation's music education programs for high school students. Joe Don himself went to a small high school that didn't have a lot of money for their music programs. He was able to be in the marching band and knows firsthand what kind of an impact music can have in a teenager's life. Joe Don said, “I got to play trumpet, from sixth grade all the way up through until I graduated. But also along the way when we did concert band I was able to play French horn, baritone for a couple different songs. I also played percussion too, so I got to experience a lot.” Rascal Flatt's Nothin' Like This album is one of the featured items going towards the charitable donation.