NASHVILLE, TN. (CMA
Music Fest) -
Lonestar and friends helped kick off the CMA
Music Festival with "Lonestar &
Friends Strike Out For The Kids," a bowling party to raise money and awareness for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Now in its second year, the event drew more than 450 fans and raised $16,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. In addition to Lonestar, celebrities included Carrie Underwood, Jake Owen, Ira Dean and Keith
Burns from Trick Pony, Hot Apple Pie, Jimmy Wayne, Blue County, Amy Dalley, Rhett Akins,
Buddy Jewell, Josh Gracin, "Nashville Star" winner Chris Young, Michael Peterson, Jimmy Olander of Diamond Rio, Bryan White,
Linda Davis,
Bobby Pinson, Pinmonkey, new artist Brice Long, Hometown News, Catherine Britt,
Brad Cotter and
Victoria Shaw. Albert Haynesworth from the Tennessee Titans and the new group Alvarado Road Show.
On this year's event, Lonestar said, "We've had the honor and privilege of working with St Jude's Childrens Research Hospital over the course of our career, whether it be visiting the kids at the hospital, the St. Jude's Radiothon or the Bowling Bash, now in its second year. We'd like to thank all fans, artists and celebrities who came out last night in support of St Jude. It was a blast and we're already planning for next year."
Celebrities hosted bowling lanes for the party, and four lucky bowled a game with each artist. Each attending celebrity received a custom-made bowling shirt, which was autographed by the celebrity and then auctioned off to the highest bidder.
All net proceeds benefit the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. St. Jude is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tennessee, St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. No family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fund-raising organization.