Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley Thank Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce for 'Amazing Donation' Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley publicly acknowledged Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce for their generous $26 million donation to their Nashville-based nonprofit, The Store, just days before the celebrity couple’s wedding on Friday evening. The couple emphasized the significance of the gift, highlighting its role in addressing food insecurity in the region. Paisley described the donation as “transformative,” noting it would provide essential resources to families in need. Williams-Paisley added that the timing of the contribution was “critical,” as food insecurity in Nashville reached a 10-year high. She expressed gratitude for the couple’s generosity, calling it a meaningful way to “start a marriage.” The donation, announced on Thursday, was distributed across 20 charities in the U.S., with selections based on personal connections between Swift and Kelce. Among the recipients were local and national organizations, including the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Nashville’s The Store, Helping Harvest in Swift’s hometown of Reading, P.A., Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, and Harvesters – The Community Food Network. The donation also supported After-School All-Stars in Kelce’s hometown of Cleveland, reflecting the couple’s alignment of generosity with communities they are personally tied to. National charities such as Feeding America National, the ASPCA National, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library National, and Grammy in the Schools National were also included. This marks the second time Swift has contributed to The Store in the past year. In January, Paisley revealed that the pop star had included the nonprofit in her holiday donations.#taylor_swift #travis_kelce #brad_paisley #kimberly_williams_paisley #the_store
This Day in Country History: May 13 On May 13, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) awarded several significant certifications, while Dolly Parton, often referred to as the Queen of Country, released her album Blue Smoke. The day also marked the anniversary of numerous milestones in country music history, spanning decades and highlighting achievements by both established and emerging artists. The RIAA’s certifications on this date included Brad Paisley’s 2011 single “Waitin’ On a Woman,” which earned a Gold certification. Paisley, a long-standing figure in country music, has amassed numerous RIAA certifications throughout his career. Similarly, Kelsea Ballerini’s 2020 song “Homecoming Queen?” received a Platinum certification, reflecting its widespread popularity. Ballerini, who has 31 RIAA certifications, also received a People’s Choice Awards nomination for Country Artist of the Year in 2022 and has been recognized with multiple GRAMMY nominations. In 2021, Maren Morris and Miranda Lambert were nominated for the CMT Music Awards, with both artists receiving four nominations for the 2019 ceremony. Their inclusion underscored the growing prominence of female country musicians in the industry. The day also saw the release of Dolly Parton’s Blue Smoke album in 2014, which featured tracks like “Unlikely Angel” and “Banks of the Ohio.” Parton’s work continues to influence the genre, with her legacy celebrated as a cornerstone of country music. Cultural milestones on May 13 included the births of several iconic figures. Darius Rucker, who transitioned from rock to country music, was born in 1966 in Charleston, South Carolina.#dolly_parton #kelsea_ballerini #recording_industry_association_of_america #brad_paisley #maren_morris
