Bobby Bones To Introduce ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund During Upcoming ACM Special
ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music, has established the ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response…
Bobby Bones; Photo by Taylor Kelly
ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music, has established the ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund to assist individuals in the country music industry suffering a major financial setback due to the global pandemic. Bobby Bones, iHeartMedia’s leading country radio host and ACM Radio Award National On-Air Personality of the Year, will introduce the fund in a special package that is set to air during ACM Presents: Our Country, airing Sunday, April 5 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT and 7:00 PM CT) on the CBS Television Network and on CBS All Access.
According to a press release, the ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund will start with an initial donation of $250,000 as well as an additional matching donation from ACM partners, sponsors and third-party donors, including The Bobby Bones Show, FirstNet, Built with AT&T and Amazon Music. The fund will be available to members of the country music industry who meet the outlined criteria and can demonstrate the immediate need for financial assistance. Applications are available at ACMLiftingLives.org.
“ACM Lifting Lives is proud to have a long-standing history of supporting individuals in the country music industry who need some assistance getting back on their feet during these unfortunate times, with the Diane Holcomb Emergency Relief Fund,” said Lyndsay Cruz, Executive Director of ACM Lifting Lives. “With this new ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund, we hope to help alleviate some of the burden our music community faces; including the musicians, bus drivers, tour crews, songwriters, the list goes on and on during these unprecedented times.”
Those interested in donating as a third-party donor can visit the ACM Lifting Lives website to learn more.
ACM Presents: Our Country will be hosted by Gayle King and will include performances from Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown & John Legend, Luke Bryan, Brandi Carlile, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Old Dominion, Brad Paisley & Darius Rucker, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton & Gwen Stefani, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban.
Additionally, the star-studded special will feature a tribute to the late Kenny Rogers with performances by Luke Bryan, Brad Paisley and Darius Rucker.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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