'Kentucky Rising' Benefit Features Big Names

For residents of eastern Kentucky, the summer of 2022 is not one they will likely ever forget, no matter how much they'd probably want to.

The catastrophic flooding that has devastated that region of the Commonwealth has not only been Kentucky's biggest news story of the past three months, but national news networks and even international services have provided ample coverage.

CHRIS STAPLETON LENDING A HAND IN EASTERN KENTUCKY

Folks from all over made their way to Appalachia to pitch in and lend a hand. A couple of those hands belonged to country superstar Chris Stapleton, who was born in Lexington but raised in Staffordsville, in the heart of the flood zone. And when he arrived, he went to work. That included shopping for supplies at the Prestonsburg Walmart.

While he was there, he met 6-year-old Etta, a little girl with non-verbal autism who, nonetheless, responds to his music.

'KENTUCKY RISING'

On Tuesday, October 11th, Stapleton will join a couple of other eastern Kentucky natives--country legend Dwight Yoakam and singer/songwriter Tyler Childers--for a flood benefit concert--"Kentucky Rising"--at Rupp Arena in Lexington.

TYLER CHILDERS ARRIVES TO HELP FELLOW EASTERN KENTUCKIANS

Back in July, Childers rolled up his sleeves to help out folks in Jenkins, Kentucky--about 67 miles south of his native Paintsville.

DWIGHT YOAKAM RESPONDS TO NEWS OF THE FLOODING

In August, Dwight Yoakam--one of Pikeville, Kentucky's most famous exports (it's also Patty Loveless' hometown)--posted this message on Facebook:

<div class="m8h3af8h l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf n3t5jt4f"><div dir="auto">My heart began to ache as the news unfolded this past weekend about the extreme devastation and tragic loss of life due to the unprecedented floods that struck multiple counties in Eastern Kentucky. Areas adjacent to Pike county, were I was born, as well as the Floyd County, where I lived in early life have been ravaged by this series of storms.</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f"><div dir="auto">Please know that I am in absolute solidarity with Chris Stapleton who has been on the ground all day in Prestonsburg Kentucky. I am in full support of all of Chris’s personal efforts as well as the additional efforts of other groups who are working to deliver immediate response and help to all the victims affected. Please if you can, help by making donations to the following links supplied below that can also be reached off of Chris Stapleton’s social media sites.</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f"><div dir="auto">The thoughts and prayers of my family and myself are with everyone in Eastern Kentucky who suffered loss of any kind, but especially to the friends, family, and loved ones of those who have tragically lost their lives in this disaster.</div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f"><div dir="auto">⁃ Dwight</div></div>

The links to which he is referring can be found here.

Tickets for "Kentucky Rising" go on sale Friday, September 16th. Visit KentuckyRising.com or rupparena.com for more information.

[SOURCE: LEX18-Lexington]

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