FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Going Through Hell in Song and in Life
Stories of Heroes on "Country Music Across America"
(Nashville, Tenn) August 8, 2006...Stories of survival at any cost - both non-fictional and fictional - are just some of the things you'll see on this week's episode of GAC's "Country Music Across America," Thursday, August 10, 9:00 pm (ET).
Middle Tennessee mom Amy Hawkins is not comfortable in the role of hero, but tens of thousands of people who've never even met her disagree. During an April tornado, Hawkins took her two young sons to their home's basement and shielded them with her body as their home fell down around them. The boys suffered only minor cuts but Hawkins was left paralyzed from the waist down. Soon after, more than 50 thousand people signed a petition asking "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" to help build the Hawkins a new home.
More than two thousand volunteers got the home built in just five days and when Alan Jackson learned that he was the family's favorite country star, he too stepped in, performing a benefit concert at the Grand Ole Opry House for the large group of volunteers.
Jackson talks about how the Hawkins' story touched him and also shares a bit of info on his new album which was produced by Alison Krauss. "She's crazy," Jackson says with a smile. "But I'm a little crazy too."
Singer/songwriter Rodney Atkins has had quite a week: his current "When You're Going Through Hell" single topped the charts while his debut LP also landed in the #1 position on the country charts. Atkins talks with host Storme Warren about fans' reactions to his hit's message of survival and then basks in his success, celebrating with Warren at Ralph's Donuts, his father-in-law's Cookeville, Tenn., landmark.
Vince Gill sits down with Warren to chat about his new release, an unprecedented 43-song, 4 disc collection of new music. Gill also shows off the beautiful paintings that grace the covers of each disc.
And a hero of the gridiron variety - former Tennessee Titan and current Miami Dolphin Kevin Carter - continues to lay his love on Music City in the form of his annual Make-A-Wish celebrity waiter dinner at Nashville's Palm Restaurant. Servers included Rascal Flatt's Jay DeMarcus, Julie Roberts, Steve Azar and a variety of pro athletes. Warren captures all of the fun and even finds time to step behind the bar to sling a few drinks. Word is that he shouldn't give up his day job.
"Country Music Across America" on GAC: the only entertainment news show on television dedicated solely to covering the world of country music.
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Contact: Ronna Rubin/Rubin Media/615-298-4400
Lee Hall/Scripps Networks/865-560-3853
