Brad Paisley lends his voice to a new song “Hard Life,” written by 23-year-old friend Joe Kindregan, who suffers from a terminal disease. Kindregan has A-T (ataxia-telangiectasia) which combines symptoms of cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, immune deficiencies and cancer.

All U.S. digital royalties of Kindregan’s song will benefit the special initiative, A-T Children’s Project, a nonprofit organization aimed at finding life-improving therapies and a cure for A-T.

“I’ve known Joe for several years and he is one of my favorite people,” says Paisley. “His disease is physically debilitating but creatively and mentally, Joe has such tremendous depth. It’s an honor for me to be the person to give voice to his creativity and cause.”

The two met in 2005 at a fundraiser when Joe was convinced by friend Brian Christiansen, who also had A-T, to sing with Brad onstage. When Brian lost his battle with A-T, Joe decided to share Brian’s story with a song.

Joe came to Paisley’s Nashville studio twice to be a part of laying down the tracks and to see his song being produced firsthand.

“Hard Life” is currently on sale and can be purchased here.

The Civil Wars perform at The Americana Music Festival

ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival hit the right chord with PBS viewers, reaching over two million households during its Nov. 19-21 airing, making it the third highest-rated episode of Austin City Limits this year.

It is currently the most viewed ACL episode on PBS.org, see it here.

Hosted by Jim Lauderdale, the program featured an all-star band led by Buddy Miller and performances by Robert Plant, Emmylou Harris, Gregg Allman, Alison Krauss, Justin Townes Earle, Amos Lee, The Avett Brothers, Candi Staton, Lucinda Williams, Elizabeth Cook, The Civil Wars, Jessica Lea Mayfield, as well as Miller and Lauderdale. Sponsored by Nissan, the show was filmed live at the Ryman Auditorium on Oct. 13, 2011 during the sold-out 10th Annual Americana Music Association’s Honors and Awards show.

“We’re thrilled that the music we treasure is also loved and appreciated by the public,” said Jed Hilly, executive director of the Americana Music Association. “We could not have better partners than Nashville Public Television president and CEO Beth Curley for our Middle Tennessee premiere, and Austin City Limits executive producer Terry Lickona to take this to a national audience.”

Performance Rundown:
Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Buddy Miller, Jerry Douglas and Don Was / “I’ll Fly Away,” O’ Brother Tribute Performance
The Avett Brothers / “The Once And Future Carpenter”
Lucinda Williams / “Blessed”
Amos Lee / “Cup of Sorrow”
Elizabeth Cook / “El Camino”
The Civil Wars / “Barton Hollow”
Justin Townes Earle / “Harlem River Blues”
Jessica Lea Mayfield / “For Today”
Buddy Miller / “Gasoline And Matches”
Candi Staton / “Heart On A String”
Jim Lauderdale / “Life By Numbers”
Robert Plant / “Monkey”
Gregg Allman / “Melissa

Dobie Gray

Arrangements for artist and songwriter Dobie Gray have been announced. As previously reported Gray, age 71 of Nashville, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011.

Visitation will be at Woodlawn Roesch-Patton Funeral Home from 3 p.m – 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, and noon until 2 p.m. at Brentwood Baptist Church on Thursday, Dec. 15. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. Dec. 15, with interment to take place at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Brentwood Baptist is located at 7777 Concord Road, Brentwood, TN 37027.

In lieu of customary floral tributes, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or the Tennessee School for the Blind.

Gray was born on July 26, 1940, in Simonton, TX. He is survived by sisters Vivian Jean Outley (H.L.-deceased), Arthurine Brown Williams (James) and Naomi Mason (Earl-deceased); brother, Lee Clifton Brown; a host of nieces and nephews, and many others.