Country Stars With Big Hearts

Country musicians don’t just sing about big, big hearts anymore. The increasing acceptability of country music to a mainstream audience has provided country artists bigger and better opportunities not only for their music to be heard, but for their voices to be heard as well. More than ever country stars are using their fame as a platform to promote awareness for various kinds of advocacies. From breast cancer to community assistance, runaways and free shoes, country stars are not just singing about these dreary issues anymore.

Faith Hill is well-known for her charity organizations that aim to care for children and families in need. She does not just lend her image to an organization, she and husband Tim McGraw even donate the gate receipts from many of their concerts. Hill is an active supporter of the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home, Neighbor’s Keeper Foundation, and the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. She has provided her support to the Audrey Hepburn Children’s Fund, Elevate Hope Foundation, and St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Tim meanwhile has been generous more than his money over the past years. Charities such as MusiCares, Musicians on Call, and the David Foster Foundation have benefited from his bigheartedness. His late father’s The Tug McGraw Foundation has a special place in Tim’s heart. Tug, who died from a brain tumor, established the organization in 2003 to raise funds for innovative brain tumor research. Since his father’s death in 2004, Tim has been more active in the foundation.

Children’s Miracle Network is an organization committed to raising money for children’s hospitals across the country. John Schneider is a co-founder. Country celebrities who have extended their support to the charity include LeAnn Rimes, who serves as their spokesperson, gospel star Amy Grant, and Tracy Byrd.

Singer-songwriter Jewel did not just use her voice to convince you to open your wallets, she gave her kiss away as well. Last November, Jewel, aided by other country artists like Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler, and Jennifer Hanson, led an online auction for Mary Kay’s second annual “A Kiss for Country” campaign. Lip prints from many celebrities were auctioned off and the proceeds used in domestic shelters for throughout the US.

One of the world’s sexiest vegetarians, Carrie Underwood, has shared her time and talent to many organizations aimed to protect animals from cruelty. The Humane Society of the United States receives huge support from Underwood, as does PETA. Other animal lovers include Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson, founder and president of Farm Aid.

Based in Okalahoma City, Oklahoma, Ally’s House was established in 2004 with the assistance of controversial country superstar Toby Keith. A former bandmate’s daughter named Ally died at just two years old to a form of kidney cancer. Keith hosts the Annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic to raise money for the cancer patients, to help pay their medical bills, transportation, and other expenses incidental to the treatment of children with cancer. As of 2008, Keith’s efforts have helped raise more than $1.1 million for the organization.