Miranda Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation and Tractor Supply Company Support Animal Shelters With Over 250,000 In Grants
“These grants provide us with a wonderful opportunity to express our gratitude and shine a spotlight on shelters nationwide,” Lambert says.
Miranda Lambert with Delta and Cher; Photo by Jamie Wright
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Country superstar Miranda Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation and Tractor Supply Company, the leading rural lifestyle retailer in the US, have joined forces for the third year consecutive year to contribute over $250,000 to animal shelters nationwide.
As part of MuttNation’s Mutts Across America initiative, they are recognizing one exceptional shelter or foster-based rescue in each state, including Washington, D.C., and a special “Wildcard” selection, by presenting them with an unexpected grant of $5,000.
“It’s simple to locate worthy shelters and rescue organizations across the nation,” Bev Lambert, co-founder of MuttNation and mother of Miranda Lambert, who also originated the idea for Mutts Across America, said in a statement. “However, the challenge lies in selecting just one from each state.”
“MuttNation’s flagship program, Mutts Across America, has been the cornerstone of our organization since its inception,” shared Miranda. “These grants provide us with a wonderful opportunity to express our gratitude and shine a spotlight on shelters nationwide for their year-round dedication to improving the lives of shelter pets. Partnering with Tractor Supply on this and other initiatives allows us to amplify our goals and make a greater impact in changing the lives of animals.”
Over the past nine years, MuttNation’s Mutts Across America has supported more than 450 shelters with grants totaling over $1.75 million. Tractor Supply joined forces with MuttNation in 2021.
“At Tractor Supply, we hold a special place in our hearts for shelter pets,” expressed Kimberley Gardiner, Chief Marketing Officer at Tractor Supply. “Miranda’s unwavering passion and the incredible work carried out by MuttNation are truly inspiring. Supporting their efforts is both a privilege and a joy. These shelters are saving lives, providing essential care for animals as they await their forever homes.”
Each year, MuttNation diligently conducts research to carefully select the organizations that will be honored with the annual grants. This year, particular recognition is given to outstanding shelters that assist seniors, special needs dogs, large dogs, and pit mixes—affectionately referred to as “Love Harder” dogs, who are easy to love but often face challenges in finding adoptive families. Mutts Across America does not have an application process, and the recipients receive no prior notification before receiving the award.
Alongside the Mutts Across America collaboration, MuttNation and Tractor Supply launched the Relief For Rescues Fund earlier this year, aimed at aiding shelters and shelter pets in recovering from natural disasters. To date, the fund has generated over $357,000 to support shelter animals affected by various calamities such as floods, fires, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Funding has already been allocated to organizations responding to shelter pets impacted by severe flooding in California’s Central Valley, a destructive EF4 tornado in Mississippi, and other similar incidents.
Tractor Supply proudly serves as the exclusive retailer of MuttNation pet products. A percentage of all sales contributes to the MuttNation Foundation, enabling the promotion and facilitation of its mission.
The 2023 Mutts Across America grant recipients are:
Established in 2009 by Miranda Lambert and her mother, Bev Lambert, MuttNation is a nonprofit organization operating under the 501c(3) designation. Its primary goal is to advocate for shelter pet adoption, promote spaying and neutering, and raise awareness about the positive impact of these practices. MuttNation offers financial aid and collaborates with transport partners to aid and relocate animals during natural disasters. Additionally, MuttNation Fueled by Miranda Lambert, a collection of pet toys and supplies that supports the foundation, is exclusively available at Tractor Supply Company stores across the United States. For more information, visit www.muttnation.com.
2023 has already been quite a busy year for Miranda Lambert.
She recently released her first-ever cookbook, Y’ALL EAT YET? Welcome to The Pretty B*tchin’ Kitchen, which arrived on April 25.
The book offers fans a look into the ACM Triple Crown honoree’s life at home and on the road. Readers will also learn more about her Texas roots and how the strong women in her family influenced her life and career.
“Watching my mom and her friends, I saw the way pitching in, working together, loving music and being there for each other is the greatest gift you can have in life. I think my mom inherited that gift from her mom, because they both attracted the most awesome group of girlfriends,” she previously shared.
Y’ALL EAT YET? also includes 50 recipes from her personal kitchen such as Nonny’s Banana Pudding, Paw Paw’s Bar-B-Que Sauce, and Whiskey Cupcakes. The book will be released on April 25, 2023.
“I think everybody’s life is marked by those delicious flavors of what you ate during special times,” Lambert explained. “The memories, the stories and the things you eat kind of mingle together, or maybe the meals and the snacks are the things that you can go back to that make the memories come back to life.”
Lambert is now a New York Times Best Selling author as the book landed at no. 3 on the How To, Advice & Miscellaneous Books list.
Additionally, the Texas native is currently celebrating nearly two decades as a country music superstar with a career-spanning setlist in Sin City with her Velvet Rodeo Las Vegas Residency. She’s slated to make her return to Las Vegas on July 7.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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