Friday, May 14, 2010

MUSICAL FREINDSHIPS HELP NASHVILLE FLOOD VICTIMS

The flood in Nashville two weeks ago was more destructive than anyone outside the area realizes. The national media didn't give it much coverage, but the music city community is banning together to help each other out of a devastating situation.

Dierks Bentley says, "We've all been affected by it. There's devastation all over the city. But to see the Grand Ole Opry affected, that just really hit home for me, even more than having water in my house... At my house, if water touches anything, it's ruined. That wood (at the Opry), hell, maybe it's got enough magic on it that it can survive the worst. I think everything in there is toast (ruined)."

Dierks Bentley says the devastation caused by the historic Nashville floods has brought the entire community closer together.

That point was driven home to the country star when he went to help Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum pump about two feet of water out of his home.

"I went over to his place, and he was talking to his neighbors. He just moved there, and I said, 'That's cool that you know your neighbors pretty well,'" Dierks tells The Boot. "He said, 'I never knew them before today.' Everyone comes out and [bonds] when something like the flood happens. It does have a way of bringing people a lot closer together, for sure."

Although Dierks' home did sustain some water damage, he said it is minor compared with the losses of so many others. He just feels bad that the dangerous traffic conditions brought on by the floods caused him to cancel some shows.

"I hate that for those fans in Knoxville and Charlottesville," says Dierks. "But for me and the crew, there's no way we could have left our houses and families behind. It's even hard leaving once we did, because you feel so connected to your city when something like that happens. You want to be there for the telethons and concerts."

Dierks will join Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum, Rodney Atkins and other musicians for GAC's 'Music City Keep on Playin' - A Benefit for Flood Relief' telethon on Sunday, May 16 at The Ryman Auditorium.

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