Kelly Clarkson Spreads Holiday Cheer

Recording artist Kelly Clarkson stopped by Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt last week to sing and celebrate the season with patients, staff and families through Musicians On Call (MOC) Nashville.

Clarkson visited with the children and performed an acoustic set in the Children’s Hospital Theatre. The songstress led the packed room in a sing-along of her favorite holiday carols including “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer,” “White Christmas,” and “All I Want for Christmas is You.” Clarkson encouraged singing and dancing, and the children were happy to oblige. Following the show, the kind-hearted entertainer generously offered to visit the rooms of patients unable to attend.

Steven Webber, Chair of Pediatrics at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, presents Kelly Clarkson and her band special thank-you gifts made by patients. Photo: Joe Howell

“This is such a special time of year and I’m so happy to be able to share it with all of these great kids. I’m probably having just as much, if not more, fun than they are,” said Clarkson. “I heard about Musicians On Call from a friend of mine and I thought this would be the perfect way to get involved with a hospital music program here in Nashville. I love playing for the kiddos!!”

MOC Nashville is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year and since its inception, the Music City branch has grown to provide 11 weekly bedside performance programs throughout six area healthcare facilities and has played for over 60,000 patients. Other artists that have participated in the programs include Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes, Martina McBride, Jerrod Niemann, Kellie Pickler, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, and others.

For more information on MOC, click here.

(L-R): MOC Nashville volunteer Shane Tarleton, MOC Board of Directors Chairperson Scott Welch, Kelly Clarkson, MOC Director of National Expansion and Nashville Program Director Katy Brown Epley, MOC Manager of Volunteers and Programming Dana Brim.
Photo: Glenn Sweitzer