Jerrod Niemann Donated Musical Instruments to New York City's PS 22!

A lot of famous people visit the "kid chorus" at New York City's PS22. And I mean famous. The kids have hung with Oprah,Katy Perry, Carrie Underwood and Gym Class Heroes to name a few. And yet, NONE of them came through like JERROD NIEMANN. Jerrod stopped in to perform with the "kid chorus". He also came bearing gifts. Jerrod DONATED a brand new set of drums and a new piano to the school's music program . . . and it was a total surprise!

Country Music comes though in a BIG way THANKS To Jerrod Neimann! Jerrod, you are a class act!
No pun intended! :)

Taylor Swift Wants to Have Four Kids . . . And She Donated $10,000 to a School for the Deaf.

Part of TAYLOR SWIFT'S plans to rule the world include passing her DNA onto future generations.  "Marie Claire" asked for her take on "Forbes" magazine's report earlier this year that she was highest paid celebrities under 30. She said, quote, "That money will be really good for sending my kids to college some day . . . or maybe I'll have a few more kids than I thought. I want a bunch of them running around, minimum four." Unfortunately, the world is going to have to be patient. She adds, quote, "I want to wait a while, but the idea of pouring everything you are into another person when you become a parent has always been amazing to me." By the way . . . you may have heard how some goofs tried to sabotage a contest where a school would win a Taylor Swift concert. They got people to cast tons of Facebook votes for the Horace Mann School for the Deaf. The bad joke being it's live music for the hearing impaired. Yeah, not funny. But Taylor made it backfire by donating an extra $10,000 to the school . . . and each student gets a ticket to her next concert.  (--You can read more about it here.)

Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum and More Join Celebs Singing ‘Hey Jude’ to Help the Children of St. Jude

Some of country music’s most beloved stars have joined their fellow celebrities from the world of entertainment in recording a new version of the Beatles classic ‘Hey Jude’ to help raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. A new clip released online shows Alabama front man Randy Owen, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Big and Rich and Darius Rucker all contributing lines to the new track, which is encouraging fans to donate money to help fight childhood disease. The verses culminate with comic actor Robin Williams delivering the song’s climactic scream before the children of St. Jude and members of the staff are joined for the chorus by a host of stars from TV and film, including Betty White, Jimmy Kimmel, Ellen DeGeneres and Marlo Thomas, whose father Danny Thomas founded St. Jude.

Thomas’s son Tony Thomas produced the ‘Hey St. Jude’ video, which was created to highlight September as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. St. Jude is one of the most important children’s charities in the world, providing free treatment to children suffering from catastrophic disease and leading the scientific world in research into cures and prevention. For a donation of $35, you can not only support the needs of sick children, you will also receive a t-shirt like the one in the ‘Hey Jude’ clip. For more information, visit this link.

(Taste Of Country)

Taylor Swift Debuts "Ronan" on Stand Up to Cancer Telethon.

Taylor Swift premiered a new song Friday night during the Stand Up to Cancer telethon, which aired on several networks.The ballad "Ronan" was inspired by a boy named Ronan Thompson, a 3-year-old who died last year from neuroblastoma, which is cancer of the nerve tissue. Taylor wrote the song after reading his mother's blog, and even gives her a co-writing credit on the song. Following the telethon, the song was released on iTunes, with proceeds benefiting cancer charities.

Just an FYI, make sure you have the tissues handy.

Luke Bryan Joins Carrie Underwood and Tim McGraw for MDA Show of Strength Sunday.

Luke Bryan joins Carrie Underwood and Tim McGraw on this Sunday's MDA Show of Strength special airing at 8 p.m. ET. The show is the new incarnation of the annual MDA Labor Day telethon, and Luke is proud to take part. He recently taped his portion of the show at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
"The MDA is just such a strong charity and such a strong organization and to be asked by them to be a part of the telethon was a no-brainer for us," Luke says. "We all grew up watching the telethon, and it’s just such an amazing charity and an amazing event." Carole King, Pitbull and Will.i.am are also on the show, and Luke hopes country fans will tune in and donate money to the fight against muscular dystrophy. He says, "I hope that my segment and country music’s segment and the whole Opry piece really helps the telethon do what it’s supposed to do –- raise a lot of money and help kids.” Check local listings to find out which channel is airing the MDA Show of Strength special in your area.

Note: You're Welcome Ladies! - Hammer :)

Jerrod Niemann Serenades Patients at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville.

Jerrod Niemann recently serenaded patients at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville to kick off the 11th Annual Weekly Bedside Performance Program for Musicians on Call Nashville. He sang his latest single, "Shinin' on Me," as part of the program, which brings live music to the bedside of patients in healthcare facilities. Jerrod is a big supporter of Musicians on Call. He says, "You get to meet all of these wonderful children and their families. They are going through such a difficult time and I hope my music can make a difference by brightening their day." Jerrod got a lot out of participating in the program too. "It was such an incredible experience to perform," Jerrod explains. "All these children have definitely made a difference in my life." Trace Adkins, Lady Antebellum, Kellie Pickler and Darius Rucker are among the stars who've participated in the Musicians on Call program in the past. For more information, go to MusiciansonCall.org. "Shinin' on Me" is the lead single from Jerrod's new album, Free the Music, due out October 2.

The Good News: Did Paris Hilton Save the Life of a Man With Muscular Dystrophy?

I can't remember the last time someone reported on the GOOD stuff PARIS HILTON does. So this is a switch: A young man named Mike Oliveri who suffers from muscular dystrophy happened to meet Paris about two weeks ago. She hung out with him and was really kind to him, but that's not where this story ends. Soon after that, Paris hit up his website, mikeyWheels.com, and started chatting with him. During that chat she gave him $5,000. And the money was seriously needed, because Mikey's care costs thousands of dollars a month. Mike made a YouTube video explaining just how much Paris has done for him and he even claims her unsolicited donation SAVED HIS LIFE.

Remember Emmylou Harris?

EMMYLOU HARRIS is headlining the first annual "Woofstock", which is a charity event benefitting Nashville's Bonaparte's Retreat dog-rescue organization.  Emmylou's concert is August 18th.  (Full Story)

The Good News: Charlie Sheen Is Giving At Least $1 Million to the USO!

CHARLIE SHEEN is donating one-percent of the profits from his FX show "Anger Management" to the USO. He's guaranteeing the donation will be at least $1 MILLION, but there's no limit on how high it can go. Charlie will hand over the first installment of $250,000 in a private ceremony later this week.
He says, quote, "It's an honor for me to be able to give back to these men and women of the military who have done so much for all of us. "They put their lives on the line for us every day, and I'm just happy that my work on 'Anger Management' can bring a little bit of relief to the troops and their families."

Miranda Lambert Hosts 5th Annual Cause for the Paws Concert Friday

Miranda Lambert hosts her 5th Annual Cause for the Paws concert in Beaumont, TX Friday to benefit her Mutt Nation Foundation. Proceeds will go to provide support for homeless and neglected animals. The show takes place in Ford Park and features Josh Abbott Band and Wade Bowen joining Miranda on the bill. For those who can't make it to the show (Like Me!) but still want to help the cause, Miranda has launched a Mutt Nation Foundation eBay auction running through this weekend. Items up for bid include signed memorabilia from Miranda, Carrie Underwood, Scarlett Johansson and others.

The Good News: John Cena Has Granted His 300th Wish for the Make-A-Wish Foundation!

Pro wrestling gets a pretty bad rap in the media . . . and sometimes it is deserved.  But these guys DO perform good deeds now and then.  Especially JOHN CENA. John recently granted his 300th wish for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, making him the organization's all-time leader. (--It's not clear if these guys are second and third, but Make-A-Wish notes that MICHAEL JORDAN has granted 200 wishes, and KOBE BRYANT has granted 100.) On yesterday's "Good Morning America", Cena surprised a 7-year-old boy who suffers from a spinal condition with tickets to the upcoming, 1,000th episode of "Monday Night Raw". Cena says he wants to grant 1,000 wishes.  He is the Make-A-Wish Foundation's most requested celebrity. HULK HOGAN started the trend of wrestlers granting wishes . . . and back in the '80s, HE was the foundation's top dog.

The Darth Vader Kid From the Volkswagen Super Bowl Ad Needs Open Heart Surgery.

Remember the "Darth Vader kid" from that awesome 2011 Volkswagen Super Bowl commercial?  Well, his name is MAX PAGE.  He's seven years old, and today, he'll be undergoing open-heart surgery. Max was born with a heart defect, and the surgery will replace his pulmonary valve and repair a hole in his heart.
In an e-mail to the website BusinessInsider.com, Max's mom says she and Max have spoken about the upcoming surgery extensively, and even made a list of things he CAN DO while he's recovering. That way, he won't focus on all that things he CAN'T do this summer. She said, quote, "[Max told me], 'Mom I don't have a choice. I have to go through it. I don't like it and it's still scary . . . but I have to. So I think I might as well go through it with a good attitude.'" When he's not acting, Max helps raise money for other kids with heart conditions. And he asked his mom to include this message from him in her e-mail . . .
"Kids, if you use your FORCE and dream big, you can achieve anything.  We may be small . . . but we're mighty!" 

(--You can read the whole e-mail here.)

Taylor Swift Receives "Star of Compassion" Award!

 Add another award to Taylor Swift's already overloaded trophy shelf: She's been given the 2012 "Honorary Star of Compassion Award" by Northwest Tennessee Disaster Services, a non-profit group that supports disaster relief and education. Over the past few years, Taylor has raised or donated hundreds of thousands of dollars for disaster relief. In 2008, she donated all the proceeds from her merchandise sales at the CMA Music Festival to the Red Cross disaster relief fund, and that same year, she gave $100,000 to the Red Cross in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to help the victims of flooding there. After the Tennessee floods of 2010, Taylor donated $100,000 to a flood relief telethon, and donated another 100 grand later that year to rebuild a playground in Hendersonville, Tennessee, that had been damaged by the floods.  Last year, she sold tickets to the dress rehearsal for her Speak Now tour and donated the money to victims of tornadoes in the U.S. Southeast. In a statement, the group's director said, "Taylor Swift has inspired the small community of Northwest Tennessee with her uplifting words and music of encouragement and has become a positive role model for the young and old alike here."

Here Comes The Sun Poker Run!

Event Name: Here Comes the Sun Poker Run Benefits: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Location: 273 Titusville Road Poughkeepsie NY 12603
Start Time: 9am End Time: 5pm
Details: Sign up is 9-11am. 80 mile Poker Run. Best hand wins $200.00 / Custom bike contest. Breakfast BBQ Horsehoes by PC's Paddock Restaurant.Live Music by MADD DOGG. Make a difference & Help someone you love! Questions? call 845-891-5808 Non riders welcome too! For more information please contact: Steve Dolce via e-mail at: steve@trailerki​ng.com or by phone at: 845-891-5808
Contact Website: afsp.org

Willie Nelson Recorded a Cover of the Rolling Stones classic "Wild Horses" . . . and Is Donating the Proceeds to the Protection of Horses.

WILLIE NELSON is stepping up his effort to stop the slaughter of wild and domestic horses for human consumption . . . and to protect them from being exported for the same purpose. Willie, along with some of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, have recorded a version of the ROLLING STONES classic "Wild Horses". Proceeds from the song will go to the Animal Welfare Institute. That's the nonprofit organization doing everything in their power to help protect the horses.

Visit The Website! Click Here!

Toby Keith & NFL Stars Start New Veterans Organization...

TOBY KEITH joined up with NFL stars Tommie Harris, Roy Williams and Mark Clayton . . . to start a charitable organization called "Pros 4 Vets". It's dedicated to raising awareness to the needs of service members, veterans and their families. Toby explains, quote, "It's our duty as Americans to take care of our men and women in uniform when they come home. We invite professionals from all fields to step up to this challenge and help."

Click Here To Visit Pros 4 Vets!

World Toilet Day is Today!!!

World Toilet Day on 19th November reminds us that over 2.6 billion people lack any form of 'improved' sanitation; one-sixth of the world's population get their water from sources contaminated by human and animal faeces; half of all people in developing countries have an illness related to sanitation and water quality; and every six seconds, a child dies of diarrhoea.

Click here for more...

Montgomery Gentry Helping Build A Playground Today

Montgomery Gentry will be in Lexington, Kentucky today. Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry will join volunteers from The Home Depot, Academy of Country Music and KaBOOM! to construct a playground in one day at Booker T. Washington Academy. The Kentucky natives are being honored with a playground built in their honor as recipients of this year's The Home Depot Humanitarian Award, which was presented back in April at the 45th annual ACM Awards. The duo let their fans pick the location for their park. Lexington was chosen as the playground site through an online vote.