• ABOUT
    • Contact
    • The Team
    • FAQ
    • Use & Privacy Policy
  • ADVERTISE
  • ROWFAX
  • JOB LISTINGS
MusicRow.com
  • CALENDARS
    • Album/EP Releases
    • Single/Track Releases
    • Industry Events
  • OBITS
  • CHARTS
    • Radio Chart (Current)
    • Radio Chart (Archives)
    • No. 1 Challenge Coin
    • Songwriter Chart (Current)
    • Songwriter Chart (Archives)
  • REVIEWS
  • MY STORY
  • NEWSLETTER
    • Newsletter (Current)
    • Newsletter (Archives)
    • SIGN UP (FREE!)
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • STORE
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu

Nashville Shines at T.J. Martell Honors Gala

March 28, 2012/by Eric T. Parker

(L-R): Thomas G. Cigarran (Spirit of Nashville Award), C. Wright Pinson (Lifetime Medical Achievement Award), Kris Kristofferson (Frances Williams Preston Lifetime Music Industry Award), Joe Galante (Tony Martell Lifetime Entertainment Achievement Award), Colin V. Reed (Lifetime Humanitarian Award)

The fourth annual T.J. Martell Honors Gala was held at the Hutton Hotel this past week, raising over $400,000 for 11 top U.S. cancer research hospitals, including the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

The sold-out event was hosted by Vince Gill and musical performances included K.T. Oslin (“80s Ladies”); Emmylou Harris (Kris Kristofferson’s “The Last Thing to Go”); Gill (“Together Again”); Charlie Daniels (Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues”); Martina McBride (“Independence Day”); Ronnie Dunn (Brooks & Dunn’s “Believe”); and Bruce Hornsby (a piano interpretation of “A Night on the Town”).

Former TN Governor Phil Bredesen and Nashville Chamber President Ralph Schulz presented Tom Cigarran with the Spirit of Nashville Award for professional and charitable work within the Nashville community.

Kris Kristofferson was honored with a standing ovation while accepting the Frances Williams Preston Lifetime Music Industry Award, presented to him by Harris and the legendary BMI executive herself, Frances Williams Preston.

Gaylord Chairman and CEO Colin Reed received the Lifetime Humanitarian Award from Gill and Lew Conner, who spoke of Reed’s leadership during the 2010 Nashville flood.

C. Wright Pinson, who founded Vanderbilt University’s liver transplantation program and liver surgery division in 1990, was awarded by Vanderbilt’s liver transplant recipient Julie Damon with Charlie Daniels.

The final, Tony Martell Lifetime Entertainment Achievement Award, went to music executive Joe Galante. Dolly Parton and Kenny Chesney presented Galante, who thanked his mentors: Jerry Bradley, Frances Preston, Joe Talbot and Irving Waugh.

“I didn’t get the town or the music,” said Galante. “But that all changed when I was asked to go with Dolly on a promo trip in New York City. Dolly was to ride the Long Island Rail Road and at every stop get out and sing a song on a flatbed car…In between stops we just talked and laughed. It became a turning point for me. I know I’m home now in Nashville — this has been a very special night.”

Over the last four years, the Honors Gala, which is a part of The T. J. Martell Foundation, has raised a total of $1.8 million for leukemia, cancer and AIDS research. The foundation was founded in 1975 by music executive Tony Martell and his colleagues, in memory of his son, T.J., who died of leukemia. The Foundation has provided over $250 million dollars for research at top research hospitals in the United States.

(Photos: Rick Diamond, Getty Images)

 

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Eric T. Parker
Eric T. Parker
Eric T. Parker
Latest posts by Eric T. Parker (see all)
  • SiriusXM Adds New Channels, Personalization, Expanded Video, Mobile App Upgrades - July 10, 2019
  • Spotify To Close Beta Program That Let Indie Artists Upload Music Directly - July 3, 2019
  • Mark Your Calendar—July 2019 - July 1, 2019
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on X
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/10192254/TJ.jpg 380 570 Eric T. Parker https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png Eric T. Parker2012-03-28 11:03:162012-03-28 11:03:16Nashville Shines at T.J. Martell Honors Gala
You might also like
The Producer’s Chair: Paul Worley
Kenny Chesney Signs Global Publishing Agreement With UMPG
Weekly Chart Report (5/13/16)
Reba and Blake Add Second Tornado Relief Show
Bobby Karl Works ‘MusicRow’s’ Rising Women On The Row Breakfast
Weekly Chart Report (4/28/17)

RECENT NEWS

  • Texas Songwriter U Program Now Accepting Submissions July 1, 2025
  • AD/HD Inks With The Neal Agency July 1, 2025
  • Apple Music Honors Toby Keith With Exclusive Apple Music Nashville Sessions July 1, 2025
  • Noeline Hofmann Inks With Sony Music Publishing July 1, 2025
  • Eric Church To Livestream Trilogy Of Red Rocks Shows Exclusively On Nugs July 1, 2025
  • Rusty Gaston Joins CMHOFM Board Of Officers & Trustees July 1, 2025
  • No Ka ‘Oi Songwriters Festival Unveils 2025 Lineup July 1, 2025
  • Otto Padrón Named Co-President & COO Of Get After It Media July 1, 2025
  • Mark Your Calendar—July 2025 July 1, 2025
  • Jason Aldean Extends ‘Full Throttle Tour’ Into Australia & NZ In 2026 July 1, 2025

Like Us on Facebook

Follow Us on Twitter

Tweets by MusicRow
© 2025 Music Row Enterprises, LLC - Enfold WordPress Theme by Kriesi
Website hosted by Nashville web design company, All My Web Needs.
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to X
  • Link to Instagram
Scroll to top