PADUCAH, Ky. – Kentucky natives Steven Curtis Chapman and Ricky Skaggs raised over $200,000 for victims of the devastating Mayfield, Ky. tornado via Samaritan’s Purse at their sold-out benefit concert. Held Feb. 20 at Heartland Church in Chapman’s hometown of Paducah, the uplifting evening also included performances from Jason Crabb, Larry Stewart and more.

The Kentucky Tornado Relief Benefit Concert received support from numerous organizations committed to helping the region recover. Blue Wolf Capital Partners, The State Group and the family of companies throughout Kentucky (Rick’s Electric, Beltline Electric, Comstock Electric and Delta Services) sponsored the event. US Bank of Paducah, Baptist Health, Golden Rules Sign, Price Foundation and Fourteen Foods served as partners. Mercy Chefs provided catering, while Chick-fil-A also supplied everyone with a free meal. Donations can still be made to assist the tornado victims via Samaritan’s Purse at KYTornadoReliefBenefit.com.

​​“Sometimes amazing beauty shows up in the most broken places, and that’s what it felt like happened in Paducah on the evening of Feb. 20. Out of a broken heart for a community broken by a devastating tornado, we all showed up to show love, bring encouragement and raise some money to help those most impacted… and it was truly a beautiful night! I’m so thankful for all who came to be a part of the night, on stage and in the audience, and all the generous sponsors who helped make it possible. And I’m especially grateful for Samaritan’s Purse for partnering with us and continuing to care for the people of Mayfield,” shared Chapman.

“I want to thank all the folks who came out and supported the benefit for Mayfield, Ky. last Sunday night. We thank our sponsors. We couldn’t have done this show without you. I believe God blessed all of our efforts,” stated Skaggs.

“The people of Kentucky are some of the most hard-working, humble and loving people you’ll ever meet. They’re the first to say, ‘make sure you take care of others before you take care of me!’ That’s just how us Kentucky people are. To see my friends and fellow Kentucky boys chip in and help just warmed my heart so much. Thank you Steven Curtis Chapman, Ricky Skaggs and Samaritan’s Purse for inviting me to be a part of a wonderful evening to help our Kentucky friends and neighbors!” expressed Crabb.

“I was so honored to be asked to perform in my hometown for the tornado relief concert and to join Steven Curtis, Ricky and Jason for a magical evening of music. I am so thankful and appreciative of the support from the full house and the giving spirit and love shown for the people of Mayfield,” added Stewart.

Based in Boone, N.C., Samaritan’s Purse responds to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situations, especially in locations where few others are working. Led by President and CEO Franklin Graham, Samaritan’s Purse works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine and persecution. For more information, visit SamaritansPurse.org. 

ABOUT STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN:
In a career that has spanned over 30 years, Steven Curtis Chapman is the most awarded artist in Christian music history with 59 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, five GRAMMYs, an American Music Award, 49 No. 1 singles, selling more than eleven million albums and with ten RIAA-certified gold or platinum albums to his credit. He has been on “Good Morning America,” “CBS Sunday Morning,” CNN, MSNBC, “60 Minutes,” E! Entertainment, “The Today Show,” “Fox & Friends,” “CBS This Morning” and “The Tonight Show,” Glenn Beck’s “The Blaze,” along with appearing in the pages of People, Billboard, Parents Magazine and more. A vocal supporter of adoption, Chapman, along with his wife Mary Beth, founded Show Hope in 2003, a nonprofit organization that helps restore the hope of a family to orphans.

 

ABOUT RICKY SKAGGS:
Earning 12 #1 hit singles, 15 GRAMMY® Awards, 13 IBMA Awards, nine ACM Awards, eight CMA Awards (including Entertainer of the Year), along with six Hall of Fame inductions, Ricky Skaggs is truly a pioneer of Bluegrass and Country music. Since he began playing music over 60 years ago, Skaggs has released more than 30 albums and has performed thousands of live shows. He started his own record label, Skaggs Family Records, in 1997 and released 12 consecutive GRAMMY®-nominated albums. The Grand Ole Opry member also penned his first-ever autobiography, “Kentucky Traveler.” The book details the life and times of Skaggs and provides a descriptive history of Country and Bluegrass music, as told by the master himself. As an in demand musician, he is regularly on tour with his band, Kentucky Thunder. In 2020, Skaggs received the National Medal of Arts, the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government.

ABOUT JASON CRABB:
One of Gospel and Christian music’s most iconic voices, Kentucky-born Jason Crabb has been honored with two GRAMMY® Awards and 22 GMA Dove Awards, the latter including nods for Artist, Male Vocalist and Song of the Year. He is the youngest member inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, and his hometown of Beaver Dam, Kentucky, has paid tribute with a street in his name. Since his first solo release in 2009, he has performed on many of the world’s most prestigious stages, such as Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry, the Brooklyn Tabernacle and Billy Graham’s final crusade. Crabb’s electrifying stage presence, powerhouse vocals and magnetic personality have endeared him to millions around the world through extensive personal appearances, media coverage and social media, including over 20 million views on YouTube.
 

ABOUT LARRY STEWART:
When Larry Stewart first moved to Nashville, he had his share of menial Music Row jobs, from a stock clerk at the Country Music Hall of Fame and mowing grass at BMI to running tape copies at MCA Music. It was while working at MCA though that longtime family friend Jerry Crutchfield coaxed Stewart into singing a few demos for his brother Jan. The word quickly spread about the young man with a voice that mixed strength and intimacy with an honest raggedness that made him real. Suddenly, Stewart was an in-demand demo singer, and it wasn’t long until destiny came knocking in the form of Tim DuBois who was putting together a band called Restless Heart. To date, Restless Heart is one of the most successful groups in country music history. The band has placed over 25 singles on the charts with six consecutive #1 hits, recorded four albums certified Gold by the RIAA and have won a wide range of awards including the Academy of Country Music’s “Top Vocal Group.” Today, Stewart tours regularly with The Frontmen (consisting of Stewart, Richie McDonald, formerly of Lonestar, and Tim Rushlow, formerly of Little Texas).
ABOUT BLUE WOLF CAPITAL PARTNERS:
Blue Wolf Capital Partners is a private equity firm that makes transformational investments in middle market companies. They build strong businesses by combining financial and operational discipline with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and working closely with management to create sustainable value for stakeholders and investors.

ABOUT THE STATE GROUP:
The State Group and its family of companies are a leading North American multi-trade industrial and specialty services contractor. Established in 1961, the company provides comprehensive electrical and mechanical trade services to the power generation, automotive, oil and gas, communications, metals, government, manufacturing, health care, transportation and other industrial and commercial markets. For more information, please visit www.stategroup.com.
 

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