Musicians On Call Unites Country Stars For Veterans Day Celebrations

Scotty Hasting visited veterans and caregivers at the Nashville VA Medical Center to perform songs at their bedside. An Army Veteran and Purple Heart recipient himself, Hasting made connections with the veterans through their shared love of music and experiences in the military. Musicians On Call Volunteer Charles Esten also spent time with the veterans, bringing smiles through classic country songs and hosting the nursing staff in a Wrangler trivia contest. Patients shared how hearing his voice and songs in the hallways of the VA made a difference during a challenging time.

Hasting also hosted a virtual concert for veterans to enjoy on Veterans Day and throughout the month. The concert featured performances made by the Grand Ole Opry and words of gratitude from artists like ​Esten, The Bellamy Brothers with Gene Watson, Chapel Hart, Mae Estes, Sara Evans, Taylor Hicks, Dustin Lynch, Scotty McCreery, Tigirlily Gold, Mark Wills, Army Veteran and current Army Reserve soldier Craig Morgan and more. Hasting closed out the show with a performance from his Grand Ole Opry debut. The concert is shared exclusively with VA hospitals through Musicians On Call’s virtual program.

Charles Esten during Concert For Veterans Presented by Wrangler. Photo: Dusty Barker

“We make it a priority at Musicians On Call to perform for Veterans in all of the communities we serve. Both the patients and caregivers at these facilities have sacrificed more than we can imagine, and with our mission we know how deeply music resonates with all generations. So we are honored to use music as a way to thank our heroes on Veterans Day,” says Musicians On Call President & CEO Pete Griffin. “MOC’s volunteers have performed for over 100,000 Veterans through our programs, and with the help of this year’s devoted partners and all of the artists involved, we showed thousands more Veterans just how much they are appreciated every day.”

“Music has a unique way of connecting us, lifting us up and providing comfort – especially for those who have sacrificed so much for our country,” adds John Meagher, Vice President of Global Brand Marketing, Wrangler. “Wrangler is proud to continue our support of Musicians On Call, to spread moments of joy and gratitude and bring the healing power of music to the brave servicemen and women who have stood in service for our country.”

At the Murfreesboro VA Community Living Center in Murfreesboro, veterans and their loved ones enjoyed a special live writers round featuring MOC Volunteers Drew Dixon, Jenny Teator and Troubadour Blue. Following the group performance, the artists visited the bedsides of the Veterans in the long-term and memory care facility. Through an ongoing partnership with the Dementia Society of America, MOC uses its programs to raise awareness of the impact of music on people living with Dementia.