T.J. MARTELL FOUNDATION REVEALS PERFORMERS FOR 2020 NASHVILLE HONORS GALA (2/24)
T.J. Martell Foundation – the music industry’s leading nonprofit to fund innovative medical research focused on treatments and cures for cancer – is revealing its top-tier list of performers for the 2020 Nashville Honors Gala at the Omni Hotel on February 24. This year’s star-studded event will feature RASCAL FLATTS, VINCE GILL, WADE HAYES, CARLY PEARCE, MICHAEL RAY, and CECE WINANS.
The annual celebration will toast to a new class of honorees in Music City being acknowledged for their professional accomplishments, community spirit, and philanthropy, including: GRAMMY award-winning contemporary Christian artist Amy Grant – Tony Martell Outstanding Entertainment Achievement Award; President of Morris Higham Management, Clint Higham – Chairman’s Award; Associate Director for Clinical Research and Director of Phase I Research at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Dr. Jordan Berlin – Medical Research Advancement Award; commercial real estate developer and CEO of Hall | Emery, Patrick G. Emery – Spirit of Nashville Award; and community builders Jim and Laurie Seabury – Lifetime Humanitarian Award. Jim is the Chairman and CEO of Enterprise Solutions while Laurie is a current and former Chairwoman/Board Member of multiple charitable organizations.
Co-chaired by entertainment executive, Steve Buchanan, and Sweet Talk Publicity President/Owner, Jensen Sussman, the T.J. Martell Foundation thanks Emerald sponsors: Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, The Charlie and Moll Anderson Family Foundation; Gold sponsors: BMI, Hall Capital, Sarah Cannon, The Cancer Institute of HCA Healthcare; and Silver sponsors: Brookfield Properties Development, Messina Touring Group, Sandbox Entertainment | Smacksongs, and SiriusXM. Thanks are also extended to in-kind sponsors Lipman Brothers, Morris Light & Sound, Moo TV, and Soundcheck.
For additional information on the 2020 Nashville Honors Gala, visit tjmartell.org.
About the T.J. Martell Foundation:
The T.J. Martell Foundation is the music industry’s leading foundation that funds innovative medical research focused on finding treatments and cures for cancer. The Foundation was founded in 1975 by music industry executive Tony Martell and his colleagues in loving memory of his son T.J., who died of leukemia. The Foundation has provided more than $280 million for research at flagship hospitals in the United States.
For more information on the T.J. Martell Foundation visit www.tjmartell.org and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
About Rascal Flatts:
Hailed as one of the most influential groups in modern country history, Rascal Flatts are a chart-topping trio created by vocalist Gary LeVox, multi-instrumentalist Jay DeMarcus and guitarist Joe Don Rooney. Since their founding in 2000 and subsequent breakout with the Top 5 hit, “Prayin’ for Daylight,” the band has gone on to infuse country’s traditional mainstream with smooth-pop textures, arena-rocking energy and faithful positivity, impacting countless fans and fellow artists along the way. They’ve racked up 17 Number One hits, over 23.4 million albums sold, 35 million digital downloads, 2.2 billion streams worldwide and 4.4 billion streams solely on Pandora, while also selling over 11 million concert tickets and earning more than 40 trophies from the ACA, ACM, AMA, CMA, People’s Choice and more, making them the most awarded country group of the past decade. The Grand Ole Opry members will bring an unforgettable chapter in country’s long story to a close in 2020, celebrating their 20th anniversary with Rascal Flatts Farewell: Life Is A Highway Tour – the nationwide farewell tour of their celebrated career. For more information visit rascalflatts.com.
About Vince Gill:
One of the most popular singers in modern country music, Vince Gill is famous for his top-notch songwriting, world-class guitar playing and warm, soaring tenor, all wrapped up in a quick and easy wit. Gill has won 21 Grammy Awards and 18 CMA Awards, including Song of the Year four times – making him the most-awarded artist in that category in CMA history. He has been awarded the prestigious BMI Icon award and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007. He is also a member of the Grand Ole Opry. In August 2012, Gill was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Gill was invited to be a touring member of the Eagles in 2017 and continues to join them on stage around the world. A recording artist for MCA Records, Gill’s current album is the critically-acclaimed “Okie.”
About Wade Hayes:
A second generation country singer from Bethel Acres, Oklahoma, Hayes grew up watching his dad perform. The young guitarist’s dream was to be the next Don Rich, Buck Owens’ revered guitar player and one of country music’s most legendary sidemen. Wade began realizing that goal when Johnny Lee tapped him to be his lead guitarist. He landed a publishing deal just nine months after moving to Nashville and a contract with Columbia Records soon after. His debut single, “Old Enough to Know Better,” hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. Follow up singles “Don’t Stop,” “I’m Still Dancing With You,” “What I Meant To Say,” “On A Good Night” and “The Day That She Left Tulsa (In a Chevy)” all hit the Top 10, and two of his albums have been certified gold by the RIAA.
In December of 2011, at age 41, Wade was diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer. Successful surgery and chemotherapy removed the cancer. A year later, Wade was devastated to learn the cancer had returned. He received additional treatments, and today he has no evidence of disease. The brush with death gave him a new outlook on life and motivated him to write and record a moving collection of songs called Go Live Your Life.
He released his Who Saved Who album last December. He originally wrote the title cut single as a tribute to his dog, “Jack,” who helped him get through the two bouts of cancer. The 10-song collection follows his is 2017 Old Country Song album.
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About Carly Pearce:
Carly Pearce’s kind of Country transcends the moment. Fiercely rooted in the classics, the girl who left her Kentucky home and high school at 16 to take a job at Dollywood has grown into a woman who embraces the genre’s forward progression. Defying odds, her No. 1 debut “Every Little Thing” designated Carly as the highest charting solo female debut since July 2015 and one of only three women to accomplish the feat the last decade. Her PLATINUM-certified, blockbuster ballad steered a chart-topping trifecta on SiriusXM’s The Highway as “If My Name Was Whiskey” and “Hide The Wine” followed. Beyond her 2019 CMA Awards New Artist of the Year, iHeartRadio Music Awards Best New Country Artist, ACM Awards New Female Artist of the Year, CMT Music Awards Female Video of the Year nominations, the diversity of Carly’s connection saw her win CMT Music Awards’ Breakthrough Video of the Year and Radio Disney Music Award for The Freshest! – Radio Disney Country Best New Artist. A loyal advocate of Country music’s legacy and future, it’s no surprise an institution like the Grand Ole Opry has invited her for more than 75 performances since her debut while the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum® partnered on Unbroken Circle: Exploring Country Music History with Carly Pearce, connecting the genre’s eras. Adding slots on major tours with Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts, Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean, Carly has become “Country’s ‘it’ girl” (ABC Radio) while pursuit of her childhood dream. Her eagerly anticipated sophomore album, CARLY PEARCE, is slated for Valentine’s Day (2/14/20) on Big Machine Records with Rolling Stone, E! News, CMT and more already touting the release. Working again – and unknowingly, for the last time – with busbee, the pair maintained her roots and his contemporary sense. The down-to-earth female vocalist has quickly carved out her own highly honest, emotionally compelling place in a very Pop-Country world. Carly seeks to maintain the feel good without surrendering the get real, evident on “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” a Top 20-and-rising duet with Lee Brice she penned alongside Luke Combs, Jonathan Singleton and Randy Montana. Carly will join the 2020 We Are Old Dominion Tour this Spring; for tour dates and more, visit CarlyPearce.com.
About Michael Ray:
Country singer-songwriter Michael Ray was a hit right out of the box, scoring both with critics and on the charts. With Country Aircheck boasting there are "big things on the horizon for Michael Ray" and his live shows lauded by USA Today as simply "lip-smacking good," the Florida native backed up that praise with two number ones from his 2015 self-titled debut album with "Kiss You in the Morning" and "Think a Little Less." His sophomore album, Amos, which debuted in the Top 3 on the Billboard Country Charts upon release has already spawned the hit "Get to You" and third No. 1 "One That Got Away," which All Access declared "an undeniable crowd pleaser." His latest single “Her World Or Mine” is available now, with an accompanying music video starring Chad Michael Murray. Learn more about Ray at MichaelRayMusic.com or follow him on Facebook at facebook.com/MusicMichaelRay, Instagram @MichaelRayMusic and Twitter @MichaelRayMusic.
About CeCe Winans:
The best-selling and most-awarded female gospel artist of all time, CeCe Winans has long since cemented her status as one of the most accomplished and celebrated women in modern music history. Recording and performing as both a solo artist and as a duo with her brother BeBe, CeCe has influenced a generation of gospel and secular vocalists over the course of her astonishing career. She’s been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the Nashville Music City Walk of Fame, in addition to being named a Trailblazer of Soul by BMI and garnering multiple NAACP Image Awards, Soul Train Awards, Essence Awards, and more. She’s sold in excess of 5 million albums in the US, topping the Gospel charts repeatedly while crossing over with smashes like “Count On Me,” her stunning duet with Whitney Houston from the multi-platinum ‘Waiting To Exhale’ soundtrack, which sold 2 million copies and cracked the Top 10 on the Pop, R&B, and Adult Contemporary charts.