Country Cares For St. Jude Kids 2026 Seminar Celebrates ‘Hope On Repeat’

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Pictured (L-R, back row): Russell Dickerson, Kailey Dickerson, St. Jude patient Sawyer, St. Jude patient Faith, Randy Owen; (L-R, front row): St. Jude patient Declynn, St. Jude patient Annzie, St. Jude patient Reagan. Photo: ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Country Cares for St. Jude Kids hosted its 36th annual event on Oct. 20–21 at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis to celebrate the country music community’s support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

This year was the first seminar since the program switched to a bi-yearly format in 2024, and featured performances from Hardy, Anne Wilson, Mitchell Tenpenny, Deerock and St. Jude cancer survivor Darren Warren across the two days. Russell and Kailey Dickerson were also honored as the 2026 Angels Among Us recipients. St. Jude awards the Randy Owen Angels Among Us award each year in his name, recognizing a country music artist who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and service to St. Jude.

“What have Russell and Kailey Dickerson done to deserve this beautiful award?” said Russell Dickerson from stage. “I’m not the biggest superstar in country music by any means, nor am I the biggest donor to St. Jude by any means either. And the only thing I can really think of why it would be us up here is the word ‘yes.’

“We get pulled in a lot of directions in this industry and business,” he continues. “We get a lot asked of us to be there, fly there, play here, call here. And honestly, as we have built a family, it’s become a lot more ‘no’s.’ But if I ever hear the two magical words ‘St. Jude’ – yes. And it’s that same ‘yes’ that these St. Jude families get every day. St. Jude is going to do everything within their world class power to make sure there are as many ‘yeses’ while you’re here as possible.”

“Country music carries stories of family, faith, resilience and hope from one generation to the next,” says Ike Anand, President and CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude. “In many ways, that is what you are creating tonight. Every gift to St. Jude creates something lasting – not for a single quarter or a fiscal year, but for generations. When you support St. Jude and share our story with your audiences, that generosity does not stop with a single patient. It fuels research, clinical trials, technology, global partnerships and future breakthroughs we cannot yet imagine. One act of kindness becomes many acts of healing. And ultimately, it becomes a legacy carried forward in every birthday celebrated, every milestone reached and every child who grows up and gets the chance to dream about their future.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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