Have y’all been following the news of the flooding tragedy in Tennessee? Nashville has been under water for most of the week, and I saw on CNN this morning that the waters are only now beginning to recede. The Grand Ole Opry was flooded, as was The Opryland Hotel, one of the best hotels in the world (and one I’ve actually stayed in). Thousands of homes, businesses and properties have been damaged or destroyed by the extreme flooding, in what’s being called a once-in-a-century flooding. Sidenote: here in Virginia, we also had a “once-in-a-century” weather event this winter, so that sh-t’s going around. Which makes me really worried about hurricane season.
Anyway, in addition to the thousands of people left homeless by the tragedy, another group was also hit hard: the country music community. For example, Kenny Chesney is one of many celebrities whose home and property was damaged or destroyed. I was actually thinking about this yesterday – why haven’t more country music people been on the news, donating money, talking about the tragedy? Why was no one calling for a telethon? Who is country music’s George Clooney? Well, thankfully, country music stars have put together a telethon, and Taylor Swift has become the first celebrity (that I can find) that is donating big money to the victims:
Taylor Swift — who moved to Nashville when she was 14 — is donating $500,000 to flood relief in the southern city.
“Being at home during the storm, I honestly could not believe what was happening to the city and the people I love so dearly,” Swift, 20, told The Associated Press in an e-mail. “Nashville is my home, and the reason why I get to do what I love. I have always been proud to be a Nashvillian, but especially now, seeing the love that runs through this city when there are people in crisis.”
Floors have killed 30 in three states, including 20 in Tennessee. Swift’s money will go to various relief organizations (cleanup and repair is expected to cost more than $1 billion).
A telethon — featuring Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley and Rodney Atkins — is slated for May 16. Pop singer Ke$ha, who hails from Nashville, also announced plans for a benefit concert.
[From Us Weekly]
Good for Taylor. And good for all of the artists putting together the telethon. It would be nice if Hollywood would get more involved too. Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have a home in Nashville. Gwyneth Paltrow just filmed a movie there too, as she was raving about Nashville food just a few weeks ago. Isn’t Reese Witherspoon from Tennessee too? Yep, she grew up in Nashville, I just checked. Come on, Hollywood! Show America you care about people who live in what so many of you describe as “the fly-over states”.
What a lovely thing to do! She’s a nice girl. Can’t see Mr. or Mrs. Kidman shelling out any help though- Nicole seems the type to clutch her cash regardless of how much she has.
I went on a family vacation to Nashville when I was younger. Such a nice place to go and I feel so badly for what has happened. I have also been to the Opryland Hotel it’s soooo beautiful in there.
Whichever stars decide to donate I know the people down there will be greatly appreciative.
Vince Gill set up a telethon in which will air on GAC for 2 hours commercial free.
I read your comment too fast and was going to say you should be asking where IS George Clooney and all the other stars in Hollywood. They jumped on helping Haiti but no help for their own Country?? I’m glad you did ask this because it’s what I’ve been asking all along.
BTW, the news has barely covered this until people like Kenny Chesney chastised Anderson Cooper for ignoring it. It was after this that Andersoon apologized and said they would be in Tennessee the next day. Well they jumped on planes to go to Haiti but too busy to fly a few states over in their own Country?
As much as some people want to jump on the “There’s a world OUTside of the United States” bandwagon (you know who you are) there are plenty of problems right here at home that could use good amount of coverage and even a telethon yet as those above have stated, it doesn’t happen, surely not often enough. Good for Taylor for doing something. Though I should probably admit my first question was why she didn’t donate more when it should’ve been, “just her??”
holy crap…nice implants, Kidman. beautiful dress but it doesn’t fit her well.
I’m glad they’re doing a telethon and that people with the means to do so are helping. There has been media coverage, but not the same type as other disasters – very little direction given on how to help and where to donate to. Hopefully the telethon will do that.
It’s quite possible that Nicole, Reese, Gwenyth and others have donated or will soon, but just don’t make it public. Nicole has made some donations public in the past, but I don’t think Reese has. I’m a little surprised Gwenyth doesn’t use her Goopyness to share some info about how to help. That would be more beneficial than telling people to drink ground up seaweed, or whatever she was promoting the other day.
Taylor seems like a good kid, and a good role model for the younger crowd.
I think we should fix our problems at home before saving the rest of the country. if we don’t help our ow who is going to pay for us to help other countries??? Go Swifty!!!
I don’t care for her music (Tswift) but she seems to genuinely care about her fans and less fortunate people.
But holy shiz what’s going on with Kidmans chest? Those boobs are just…I don’t even. Are they new? Or have I been to horrified by her frozen face to notice before?
Sigh, she used to be so beautiful…
Michelle Branch(of the Wreckers) is also helping with the relief effort I believe. I know she suffered losses of property in the flooding as well.
good for her! i have visited tennessee and i feel in love! my friend has family that lives there and my family and i have sent money and hygenic supplies to them, but from what they say its a sad situation all around for families up there
i find it sad that it is barely getting focus in the news… hopefully this is just the beginning of the focus on that crisis
Actually, Keith Urban DID help out, along with Vince Gill and others.
http://www.ourcountryroad.com/keith-urban-pictures-from-the-vince-gill-and-friends-nashville-flood-benefit/
nice blue eyes.
Thanks for bringing attention to this Kaiser. There was a local telethon last night on Nashville’s NBC affiliate, and if I remember the couple of minutes I spent watching it correctly, Taylor Swift called in to that herself.
The prevailing theory in town behind why this disaster hasn’t become a national media sh*tstorm is because there hasn’t been any looting or violence, therefore no shocking graphic images to show on tv.. you’ll notice that all of CNN’s coverage of this has been on its iReport feature, i.e. images and video sent in by the locals, because they can’t be bothered to send a reporter here. I myself am not so sure how I feel about this theory, so I’ll shut up now.
Her music has a tendency to get on my nerves sometimes, but she is an excellent role model for kids. On her 20th birthday, she donated $250,000 to various educational organizations.
I forgot about that, Rachel. She seems genuinely appreciate of her career and giving back, and it’s encouraging to see someone so young think about others too.
I think more news will come out as people dig their way out of the giant mess here. Downtown is not up and running yet and neither are damaged power stations and most of the water processing plants.
My den flooded but it’s not anywhere near as bad as other areas and we are very very lucky. Mess cleanup ongoing. People need good thoughts and aid right now.
If you have a Facebook account, go check out WE ARE NASHVILLE–you can buy a shirt for the flood victims. And I’m glad Taylor did this–hopefully others will too. I’m looking at you, Justin Timberlake, who is really proud to be from Tennessee sometimes…
A lot of country stars participated in Vince Gill’s deal last night on local WSMV and there are other things planned.
If this flooding had happened in some third-world country, Hollywood would be climbing over each other just to donate money and talk about it. But no, it happened here in American, so they don’t give a shit.
Wow now i believe all the rumors about kidman’s plastique work … definately boob job … but when?
luv miss swift as role model for my two youngs girls.
Hey, I’m from a third-world country and we had MAJOR flooding late last year as well. My street was under 7 feet of water. Add that to the list of “once in a century” type floods. We live beside a river that ALWAYS floods but the house has been here for almost 15 years and this is the first time we’ve been flooded. “One time, big time” as we were saying.
I’m one of the luckier ones because my house is three stories and is solid. It’s still VERY scary tho to have water come into your house at a very fast rate, trying to save whatever you can with muddy water all around you (with cockroaches and god knows what else). Thankful no one got hurt tho. Whatever we lost (a car, 2 refrigerators, etc) we could replace. We know people whose whole houses were swept away, and some who lost family members.
As far as your local coverage goes, you also have the oil spill happening. I think attention to that pulled a lot of news resources. Hopefully, news coverage on the flooding will increase.
Oh, and it kinda gets my goat to see people knock on celebrities for not helping. It’s their choice to help or not, and there is such a thing as donor fatigue.
Good on those who have stepped up to help but no judgment on those who haven’t. No one knows what’s happening behind the scenes. Instead of harping on others for not helping, state how you are helping others.
Why didn’t anyone give a shit about the two weeks of flooding in New England in March out of curiosity. Malls flooded to the second floor, streets were split in half, thousands and thousands of people lost their homes…
The Nashville floods wrecked a lot of homes and devestated the lives of families but mother nature has nothing over LeAnn Rimes who donated $10.
Hey Kayser, what part of Virginia do you live?
Taylor is an excellent human being!
Ps: Brad Paisley is so yummy 😀
Right on Swifty.
Nicole Kidman-WTF, those are some of the worst fake boobs I’ve ever seen *looking at you too, Janice Dickinson*. She is sure not aging gracefully. I wonder if she worries about keeping her man or something.
@Marjalane
Nicole Kidman is a frequent donor to various charities in Australia, particularly the Sydney Royal Children’s Hospital.
Good on her but she needs to keep track of that money she’s donating specially after it has been revealed that only single digit percentages have been donated to Haiti even though they’ve collected hundreds of millions in total from donations.
MAKE SURE ALL THE MONEY GOES TO THE CAUSE.
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