It is only mid-June, and Kenny Chesney‘s 2013 No Shoes Nation Tour has already sold over 1,089,000 tickets. The No Shoes Nation Tour began in March and has played to 19 stadiums thus far.
“I’m glad people hear their lives in this music,” Chesney says of the successful tour. “I am always humbled when people tell me they plan their summer around coming to the show, because I remember being that kind of fan. I try to be the artist I would’ve wanted my favorite singers to be – and make sure that we give people the best show we can every time we get up there. To me, that’s the most important thing… and the fans can tell. Maybe that’s why we’ve hit that million ticket mark so early this year.”

Darius Rucker lit up the stage at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon on June 3 for his fourth annual “Darius And Friends” concert to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, presented by Transitions® lenses and Visionworks®. The concert, auction and golf tournament raised $95,260.

The benefit concert line-up included an introduction from GAC’s Suzanne Alexander and performances by Luke Bryan, Sam Bush, John Cowan, Radney Foster, Mallary Hope, Randy Houser, Dustin Lynch, Justin Moore and surprise guest Joel Crouse.

The June 4 celebrity golf tournament included Lynch, Moore, Dierks Bentley, Jay DeMarcus, Colt Ford, JT Hodges, Charles Kelley, David Nail, Joe Don Rooney, Chuck Wicks, NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip and Nashville Predator J.P. Dumont.

Fans can also catch Rucker performing on ABC’s The Bachelorette on Monday, June 17 at 8/7c.

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Wade Bowen hosted his 15th Annual Bowen Classic celebrity golf tournament and concert to benefit The Bowen Family Foundation on June 2 and 3 in his hometown of Waco, TX. This year’s record-breaking event raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars with the help of approximately 4000 fans, friends and locals who came out to support the cause.

Thanks to presenting sponsor, 1-800 Flowers Franchising, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the townspeople and organizations affected by the tragedy in nearby West, Texas.

The event kicked off with an all-star concert on June 2 featuring Bowen and friends including Roger Creager, Pat Green, Cody Johnson, Josh Abbott Band, Neal McCoy, Reckless Kelly’s Willy Braun, Billy Joe Shaver, The Departed’s Cody Canada & Seth James, Aaron Watson, Josh Weathers and Charlie Worsham.

Over the past four years, Bowen has raised close to half a million dollars for various local organizations in need.

Toby Keith’s Oklahoma Twister Relief Concert will be held Saturday, July 6 at the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla. The lineup of performers, now being assembled, will include Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, Trisha Yearwood and Ronnie Dunn. Proceeds will benefit The United Way Of Central Oklahoma May Tornadoes Relief Fund. Updates on the event and lineup will be posted at www.tobykeith.com.
Doors open at 1:30 p.m., show time is 3 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 21 at 10 a.m.; all seats are $25, all inclusive, all seats reserved – eight-ticket purchase limit.
“I grew up in Moore [Okla.], I live in Norman and I’ve got lots of family and friends who were directly affected,” Keith says. “I know these folks and they’re resilient, but we’re going to keep helping them any way we can. I’m proud to get together with some others from around here who are just as committed as I am to supporting these communities.”
“Once we got the news that the tornado had hit Toby’s hometown, Miss Yearwood and I told Toby we were at his service for whatever he chose to do,” Brooks says. “I am amazed at the human spirit the tornado victims have shown. I am humbled by the giving of the volunteers. It is an honor to get to be a part of this healing process.”
Keith’s publicist tells MusicRow.com that plans to televise or stream the concert are currently being discussed.