Country Cares raises $1B for St. Judes

Performances by Brad Paisley, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi and Megan Moroney celebrated the milestone.

The success of this program has come through various ways including radiothons that bring in thousands of monthly donors, the This Shirt Saves Lives campaign, events and concerts.

It costs nearly two billion dollars each year to sustain and grow the Research Hospital, which provides free services to all children fighting cancer and other illnesses.

"What the country music community has been able to achieve through Country Cares is breathtaking. We are deeply honored and grateful for Randy Owen's passion and dedication in answering the call from our founder Danny Thomas to get involved and for rallying fellow artists, radio stations and fans for over three decades to support St. Jude. Together, they have scaled new heights with this program, placing it among the very highest level of fundraising in our history," said  Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of  ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "That is the power of country music and its fans, who inspire all of us to find ways to help one another and live charitably. Thanks to the support of this amazing community, St. Jude can continue to ensure that no family receives a bill from St. Jude for that treatment so they can focus on helping their child live."  

As part of this milestone, a studio on the St. Jude campus has been dedicated in honor of Alabama member Owen and his wife, Kelly. Owen helped found the Country Cares program in 1989 and its Angels Among Us award recognizing country music professionals for their commitment and service to St. Jude.  

"It is an honor to have this studio named after us," said Randy and Kelly Owen in a press release. "For 35 years, we've had the privilege of sharing the story of St. Jude with the world and seeing the impact our efforts make through meeting patients and their families. I am grateful to serve this incredible mission."

2024 Angels Among Us award recipient Old Dominion was honored at the event.