Artist Updates: Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Sara Evans

Blake Shelton Donates $600,000 to Oklahoma Children’s Hospital

Pictured (L-R): Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, Evelyn Bollenbach, Dr. Ashely Baker of the Jimmy Everest Center

Blake Shelton kicked off his fall tour at Oklahoma City’s Chesapeake Energy Arena on Friday and Saturday (Sept. 9-10). During the tour stop, he donated $600,000 to the Jimmy Everest Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City. More than 22,000 fans came for the combined weekend shows, which included a surprise appearance by Gwen Stefani and opening act RaeLynn.

“They don’t turn any kids away. You come in there, you have a problem, they don’t turn anybody away, so I thought, ‘That’s a place that needs some money,” said Shelton about the hospital from the stage. “Let’s all do the right thing. This is our money, Oklahoma.”

Shelton’s tour wraps Oct. 8 after a two-night stand at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to his tour, Shelton is filming Season 11 of The Voice and participating in a fundraiser for Musicians On Call.

Kenny Chesney Confirms Tortuga Music Festival

Kenny Chesney. Photo: Allister Ann.

Kenny Chesney will return for the third time to headline Tortuga Music Festival in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The date is one of a handful of appearances he will make in 2017 in support of his new music.

Tortuga’s beach party, which raises funds for Rock The Ocean, will celebrate its fifth year on April 7-9, 2017. Early bird tickets are sold-out, while regular tickets are available from $229 with upgraded access, VIP and Super VIP available now. Payment plans and travel packages will be available Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 10 a.m. ET at tortugamusicfestival.com or 877-987-6487. Additional performer announcements are forthcoming.

Miranda Lambert On Vocal Rest, Cancels Weekend Of Shows

Miranda Lambert. Photo: Courtesy of ACM

Miranda Lambert has canceled three shows this weekend (Sept. 15-17) due to doctor-ordered vocal rest, according to Live Nation. The three Texas dates—Corpus Christi, Austin and San Antonio—have not been rescheduled and were set to feature Brothers Osborne and Kip Moore. Refunds may be made at the original point of purchase and those made via phone or internet will be refunded automatically.

Sara Evans Raises $25,000 For St. Jude On Family Feud

Sara Evans competed against Todd Chrisley and their respective families on the Season 2 finale of ABC’s Celebrity Family Feud on Sunday (Sept. 11). Evans competed with her four siblings Jay Evans, Matt Evans, Lesley Lyons, and Ashley Simpson and ultimately won during the “Fast Money” round. Fans can see a behind-the-scenes webisode above.

Evans recently signed with the Concord Music Group, and will release her next album on Sugar Hill Records. Evans has already begun working on her label debut, which will be her eighth studio album overall, planned for release early next year.