GAC Flood Relief Telethon - my report as I watch it

My Facebook blog prior to the show starting:

Nancy: also from GAC - Great American Country "Phone lines to donate for the Music City Keep On Playin' benefit are open NOW. 1-877-768-6274. Show starts at 8pm ET 7 PM Central.
(This is for benefit of the Nashville Flood of 2010)

Nancy: and from GAC - Great American Country "The Music City Keep On Playin’ Benefit Concert starts at 8p ET. You can donate online right now at http://ow.ly/1LKr2
GAC Presents Music City Keep on Playin' - A Benefit for Flood Relief : Great American Country
ow.ly
Brad Paisley, Martina McBride, Lady Antebellum and an all-star lineup come together at the historic Ryman Auditorium to help raise money for the Nashville-area flood victims. The show will air live on GAC on Sunday May, 16 at 8 p.m. ET.
Nancy: also from GAC: "The Music City Keep On Playin’ Benefit Concert starts at 8p ET. You can text GAC to 501501 to donate $10 now.
Nancy: via Grand Ole Opry: posted by Grand Ole Opry which says:" Don't forget! Tune into Great American Country (GAC) or Sirius 60/The Highway TONIGHT at 8pm Eastern/7pm Central for "Music City Keep On Playin' - A Benefit for Flood Relief" broadcast live from The Ryman Auditorium.

GAC Presents Music City Keep on Playin' - A Benefit for Flood Relief : Great American Country
www.gactv.com
Brad Paisley, Martina McBride, Lady Antebellum and an all-star lineup come together at the historic Ryman Auditorium to help raise money for the Nashville-area flood victims. The show will air live on GAC on Sunday May, 16 at 8 p.m. ET.


James Denton and Kimberly williams Paisley
'for 2 straight days, nearly 20 inches of rain'
'runoff water, school buildinngs literally floated away'
'1.5 billions in damage, dozens of lives lost'
'flood threatened to silence Music City, but we at Ryman Auditorium tonight are not gonna let that happen'
'some of biggest stars have gathered, phone banks,manned by L ady A, Keith Urban, Martina Mcbride
to donate, call
877 768 nash
or gactv.com/help

"Allow Music City to keep on playing'
'to start off', Kim Williams Paisley said 'here is my husband, Brad Paisley singing'.

Brad sang then said" this is great are you from Nashville,' then my wife is up there, we need to start this off with a donation, $100 thousand
Kim said: well, I didn't need that new purse anyway.
James Denton: since May 1 and 2, nashville and over 50 counties have been named disaster areas

Nashville is Music City but it is also the Capital of the Volunteer State...(big round of applause).

Nan Kelley, with Dierl Bentley, country music superstar.
Nan: 'What happened to your house?

Dierks:'water in the basement, cutting off drywall and insulation, then started looking around town, seeing the devastation.'
Nan: In the bank, 44,000 started out tonight, just from ticket sales

Nan: 'Please continue to call, let's go to our friends, Lady Antebellum"
James Denton: 'we're still open for business and will come out stronger on the other side of this'
'we woke up and came downtown, tourists were here, musicians were at work too, music rang out at grand old opry, all the things that make music city great, except it was raining,'

'spirit is at an alltime high, the music plays on'
'make sure this concert is done as contributions, everybody working for free, every cent goes to help the victims'
James Denton: 'with 7 no 1 singles', 'here's Dierks Bentley'

Dierks: " great for nashville, make sure the money goes to the people who need it, well put together deal, might be years before Nashville gets back to normal"

James Denton: "no commercials partnered with WKRN Channel2,

now up to $245,448

"for more than 20 years Martin McBride has called Nashville home"

James Denton, "please welcome again, Martina McBride'

Martina: "what song to do?" "hope, encouragement" "now we're asking our friends to help rebuild our city" 'just asking you to do what you can' 'we really appreciate it'.
James Denton: "as flood waters contined to rise, we watched"
Bill Cody of GAC with Nashville Mayor Karl Dean:
Mayor Dean: "weekend of storm, work with first responders, ton of credit to police and fire and ambulance, over 1,000 water rescues'
'very thankful, Nashvillians taking care of Nashvillians'
"Nashville is still open for business"
GAC president Ed Hardy: is part of Scripps network, HGTV, Travel Channel,
present check to CFMT for 100 thousand dollars.
Bill Cody, showed Brad Paisley's father on the phone bank, Billy Dean, said somebody called on had 50 dollars and were giving 5 of that.

Music City, Keep on Playing
Kim: back from phone banks, 'everybody got chills, phones started ringing, keep calling, big concert, 2 more hours'
877 768 6274
'another way you can help, come visit us, open for business"
'he travelled half way around the world to make Nashville his home, and Nashville is the better for it, my friend, Keith Urban'
Keith: "I love playing the Ryman, I gotta say'
and Keith is singing: "Help me if you can, I'm feeling down, and I do appreciate you being around' and "Won't you please, please, help me'

$414,267 total so far

Keith: 'take an opportunity to thank everybody out there, not just tonight all the help Middle Tennessee has gotten, it is the Volunteer State',
'we had quite a bit of damage, but other than that, my musical equipment floated down the river toward Smyrna, last I saw it',
'it's crazy, it's like seeing New Orleans on TV in the midst of of us asking for more help, i want everybody to know we appreciate all the help'
'and we keep an optomistic spirit here in Middle Tennessee'
---------
Keith";This town has been very good to us, we had our little girl, Sunday rose, right here in Nashville'
Keith sings "Someday Baby:
------
Gac Storme Warren, tells some of the stories from the phone bank.
"Let's rebuild the city".....'.Brad Paisley's father just took a donation for $5,000 from someone in New York City"

Adam Richman, host of Travel Channel, "are there country music fans in the house' big yell,
"nascar fans' after a big yell, he says ' in the house president of Nascar, Mike Yelton"
'Driver of car 33, Clint boyer' and 'Columbus driver Tony Stewart"

'we kept driving all day and ended back up where we started"and ' no way we're gonna miss this'
'my first nascar win came right here in Nashville;
Mike Helton, 'this is kinda home to me' 'heart and soul of nascar' 'here to support our friends'
"build it back'
Kim Williams Paisley: viden to help explain
CF spokeswoman said: Community Foundation was created about 19 years ago, the flood was size of state of New Jersey, every disaster is different' " help community to get back to normal'

Lynchburg, TN's Jack Daniels Jeff Arnett, master distiller, "fans here tonight, unaffected by flood, volunteer 100 thousand dollars' and
' challenge, if you're listening, JD fan or TN Squire, we ask you to give

Travel Channel's Samantha: "greatest need, goes to great cause' 'part of Scripps Network"and "an employee of Home Depot called in and challenged other workers'

Kim Paisley "if you're enjoying, now is time to step up

Next performer, amazing CeCe Wymans: 'I was so honored to be part of this incredible cause, '

Travel channel's Samantha
take you to a video, 'show neighborhood in need'

'everything I had, everything, virtually is gone'
'i see peoples lives on the street'
' i had flood insurance, not enough money to rebuild and replace'
'we need all the assistance we can get'
Kim: " this flood came up so fast, then we started to see the pictures from Belvue, and that's when we realize' "give what you can' 'so important' 'not just another gig' 'welcome, Rodney Atkins, 'these are his people'
Rodney sings "These are my people"

Rodney: God bless you guys, everybody calling in

Kim: 'thank you Rodney,' and 'we have raised over 600 thousand dollars

Nan Kelley, over 625 thousand, wonderful contribution
Paul Jacobson, vice-president of Delta Airline 100 thousand dollars

Ellen Lehman, President of Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee 'hugely helpful'
Paul Jacobson: 'we are standing by to bring everybody in the world here in order to help nashville'

James Denton said about the rescue of a woman in a flooded burning home, she said: "God sent me an angel on a jet ski'

"Welcome Sheryl Crow'
Sheryl Crow: ' thank you so much, I just wanna say, I lived here nearly 5 years, never felt home til I lived here, worse we had our little creek was like the Mississippi' and 'my heart goes out to everybody suffering at this time'

Travel Channel's Adam Richmond "give what you can, as much as you can'
"I am giving today a check for 3600', and 'today is my 36th birthday'
James Denton: "please pick up the phone or go online at gactv.com/help

"we gotta do it ourselves, moving whatever needs to be moved, reminder of times past, reminder of important word, community'
'i see fish jumping over in my driveway;

James Denton: 'I'm a native of Nashville,' and next we have "witty, charming Kellie Pickler, who is currently on tour with Taylor Swift'
Kellie Pickler: 'this really says a lot for Nashville, and the people who make up Nashville, yes, We Are Nashville, I love it here, most importantly, the people of nashville' and 'I thought we'd lighten things up a bit, do a happy song,'Making me fall in love again'

James Denton: a lot of the news was about the West side of Nashville, now to Storme Warren with a coupla of Titans players,
Storme Warren: says "heres 2 Tennessee Titans players, Marcus Robinson, brand new guy, Derrick Morgan.
'we worked the entire day to try to rebuild an community'
'when everybody comes together, nothing is impossible'
"new guy on team?:
'really excited to be part of the community'
Storme Warren: 'proud of nashville, and by video Brooks and Dunn'
Brooks and Dunn: 'we can't be there, nice donation from some folks who can' then Brad Paisley says "ACM donates 250 thousand dollars'
CF rep: 'great donation from ACM, great partner, Lifting Lives'
Brad Paisley, back to sing again, says: 'word of advice' and 'I got hung up on 5 times, so if you call and I said Brad Paisley, it's really me!' and 'I've never seen a community rally like this one, hardly any looting, world sees us at our best, the Nashville Community'.
Brad: 'from one of my heroes, Roger Miller, a song "River in the Rain"'

Kim Paisley "backon the phones, altho they suffered a devasting loss, one church lost everything,
' never saw so much water in my life'
'I was praying that the water would stop, everything was upside down, Bibles and papers all over'
"many people come in to help, people come from other states' unique and precious moment of blessing, real body of christ, working together in the city of Nashville'
"over 1 million dollars, that's how you do it in the Volunteer State' and "let us shoot for 2" and "I need your money now'

'multi platnum singles, Jackie Velasquez' she sing "On My Knees"
--------------

Jackie says: God bless you, God bless Nashville

Kim: let's check in with Suzanne Alexander
Suzanne, "one of our morning anchors from WKRN Channel 2, Neil Orne" and 'when did you realize it was so bad"
Neil: 'when we were all watching the flood on the interstate on tv"
Neil:"we had reporters working round the clock, all the station;
Suzanne" "as you mention, time to rebuild'
Kim:' people weren't the only ones affected'
"the extent of the devastation, 21 of kennels were full, 2 dogs and 4 cats drowned (at a vet clinic)'
Kim: 'as you can see we continue to need your help' and 'every cent goes to victims'

Samanta Brown, with Travel Channel, I was here a year ago making a show for Travel Channel, the town is open' 'best way to help is to donate'
Kim: 'welcome back to stage,Lady Antebellum'
Lady A sings "Run to me'

------------------------

Lady A: 'Thank you so much, welove you, we love Nashville'

Kim: generous donor, standing with Suzanne Alexander

Greg with Ferguson Bath Kitching and Lighting Gallery, "we are donating 50 thousand, Ferguson is largest distributor, sump pumps, dehumidifiers,' and 'we've been working 24 hours a day'
Suzanne, 'talk about volunteers'
'people just showed up to volunteer'
'you really don't expect people to drop everything'
'such a positive energy'
'w are nashville, that has been their battle cry'
'just amazing'
Vern Yip, host with HGTV: 'home is where people's lives unfold, open up your heart and wallet' and 'someone took a bucket around her neighborhood for donations'
Kim: thank you to everyone who has donated, call or log online' and 'make a difference' and 'next performer, brand new nashville resident Keb Mo'
Keb Mo "spirits are high', and 'lets play a song about that'
with Chris rodriquez accompanying him and helping sing.
total is now $1,219,696
Will it make 2 million?
Kim said: Keb Mo does now live in Nashville
Vern: Hard Rock,
Hard Rock Cafe spokesman Alex: 'about 39 years company has been around, local charities, Nashville home for 15 years for one of our cafes and we are donating 20 thousand today'
James Denton: 'been looking forward to this all night, Martina McBride"
Martina sings: "Somewhere over the Rainbow'


Martin:thank y'all so much for being here tonight, god bless you
James Denton there is a rainbow, but not way out there, it's right here, please make a donation, just over 1.2 mil

Nan Kelly: Humana has such a presence, George is a vp
George of Humana:' 40 thousand donation, sponsor of Grand Ole Opry, let's round this check up to 50 thousand dollars'
Steve Buchanan of Grand Old Opry,' water receded, we got to the circle, began refurbishing it, it will be ok, removed benches, took up stage and water was from front door 20 inches to 46 inches on stage, 4 feet of water, the Opry is about the show, on Tuesday night following the flood it was held at War Memorial Auditorium'
Nan Kelly: 'Here's Scott Borchetta and his wife, of Big Machine Records.'
Scott: '100 thousand donation, Nashville has given us so much'
Ellen Lehman of Community Foundation: 'thank you so much, neighbor does look after neighbor'.
James Denton:' we're having a good time here, unrehearsed, doing it for free, here's what you can do, go to GACTV.com/help or call 877 768 6274'
James Denton: 'next performer, new Mercury recording artist, Randy Montana, who has written songs for several artist, including Garth Brooks'
Randy Montona sings "There ain't much left of loving you'
Kim: sometimes it's easy to forget, but then you see things out in the yard in a moldy pile'
'tons of first responders, but some of the rescuers needed rescuing'
'got a phone call that no one wants to get, one of your men is missing'
He got out of the car, flood had him trapped, nashville rescue squad rescued him.
Adam Richman, Travel Channel, 'give what you can, no matter how little' 'we want a lot of love in this room', 'let's rebuild this amazing city'
Kim: "welcome back to stage, Dierks Bentley;
Dierks Bentley: " I dug around in my catalog' and 'thank you for all you've given' and 'let's keep rocking'

Dierks sings "You Hold Me Together".

------

Kim: 'How we doing? Yeah, Mr. Dierks Bentley, we want to recognize some heroes, all the first responders, policemen, firemen, EMT's.Stand up, continue standing, please. Now, did any of you go out and help someone in the 1st 48 hrs after the flood, please stand up. If you were personally, affected by the flood, please stand up. If you know someone who was affected by the flood, there you go, stand up, you are the reason we're here tonight. Please sit down.'

Vern: Brad Paisley was manning the phone and rec'd a donation from TMobile for 20 thousand
Bill Cody: we are displaced from our studio, now in Brentwood at our 1931 home.
Vern: these incredible people need your help and every donation counts
Kim: Jeannie Seely has always loved her home, not much left now between her home under water and the Grand Old Opry under water
Jeannie, I feel like I have lost 2 homes, I hope peole will remember, don't forget it doesn't end
Kim: we visited Little Jimmy Dickens after the flood, he lost a lot at the Opry, and there are a lot of stories like that, now welcome back to the stage, Brad Paisley.
Brad: I have a new music player, now (Dierks Bentley)
Brad sings: American Saturday night
----

Kenny Chesney, 'I have 39 acres here in Nashville, TN, I live right on the river, this is the toughest thing that's ever happened to the city, give something, lot of people hurting, I lost a big portion of this property, a lot of people lost a lot, give 2 dollars, 20 dollars, 200 dollars, it all adds up, give to a good cause,'
Suzanne, introduced Storme Warren, then Storme said: 'you never know who is gonna answer the phone'
Storme: Julie Roberts, victim of flood herself, what happened?
Julie: actually sunday morning, somebody came to the door, tell us we need to get out of the house, I went outside, car was floating away, Mama and my sister, and my 4 dogs, we had to move upstairs to 2nd floor, got upstairs, we'd hear a voice, we're coming to get you, early, 6 or 7, we got out about 4 or 5.
Storme: a rescue boat rescued, she suffered a broken angle,
Julie: 'fortunate I am here, to help my neighbors, I saw it, saw my community and my home devastated, I just wanna help em get their lives back together
Storme: over 1.5 mil raise, we wanna get a lot more raised
Storme: another family, in South Nashville, their story
' immigrant families, have to start all over again''
Bill Cody, Samantha Brown, Storme Warren and Adam Richman, closing out the show,
Samanta'I got to work at Loveless Cafe and work with Vince Gill'
Adam,' so impressed, watch this video'
Kim: 'one more special song before we go,'
James: 'After show, you can still make a difference, GAC is going to rebroadcast and the phones will stay open'
James "Please however you choose to help, please donate.'
James: 'we're not asking for a bailout, we've been bailing out for 2 weeks'
James: 'we are music city, we're gonna keep on playing'
Will Hoge "Washed by the Water'. singing 'Down here we're washed by the water, water can't wash us away'

to donate call 877 768 6274
or online to
gactv.com/help

1577,215 raised to this point 10 pm CST

In closing Will Hoge: 'for all the people who are here and watching
we are nashville and open for business,
come back you all'