KY Singer-Songwriter Kelsey Hart Shares Why Country Cares For St. Jude

As you can see in our photo, we were very excited to run into each other in Memphis for the St. Jude Country Cares Convention in October last year. If you don't already know, the middle of this MChat sandwich is none other than Muhlenberg County native, our friend and rising country star Kelsey Hart.

We've kept in touch with Kelsey as he's been touring across the country this past year. His song, Life With You, has become a huge viral hit thanks to his popularity on TikTok and other social media platforms. It was named "The Wedding Song of 2024." Here's the official music video:

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A fun part of the annual Country Cares Convention is checking out the crowd to see which singers are invited to attend the 48-hour whirlwind. We are immersed in the world of St. Jude to learn how special the research hospital is. To hear stories straight from patients and families, listen to doctors and therapists explain how their work will change the future of medical care, and even tour the campus.

Kelsey and his band are opening for another huge St. Jude supporter, Brad Paisley, tonight in North Carolina, but he called to join us for the Radiothon today. We chatted about his time in Memphis during the Country Cares Convention. Kelsey shared, "It was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had."

"I think for me growing up listening to the WBKR Radiothon I always knew about it, but until you get down there and really experience it,  walk through the hospital, sit down with the families, and see it first hand... I don't think I had a total grasp on it until that day."

Kelsey was so moved from talking with the patients and their families about how the hospital changed their lives from the despair of the initial diagnosis to the rush of hope as soon as they walked into St. Jude's. "I think I was guilty too of trying to prepare myself for how sad it was going to be. Obviously, there are sad parts of it but when you get there it's more of a hopeful feeling."

When the kids and families walked in to meet all of the musicians who came to visit, Kelsey said they were all smiles. They got to paint and do activities together. "Their spirits were so bright. Lots of smiles. As we talked to the families, they were tearing up and sharing stories. Not in a sad way, but about how much St. Jude has done for them."

Like Kelsey told us, it's one thing to hear about St. Jude. It's another to step foot on campus and see the kiddos in their little red wagons. The parents pulling them along to face another day. St. Jude Hospital's mission is to make those days brighter for kids and families not just there but all over the world. That's why Country Cares for St. Jude.