Chesney donates Alabama concert fees to relief effort

GiveTuscaloosa.com, a clearinghouse for local charities and social services, was founded specifically to address the tornado's aftermath.

According to Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, "Thanks to the resilience and compassion of our community, the city of Tuscaloosa is in the process of healing. On this road to recovery, the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater plans to host Kenny Chesney on May 25 as scheduled. As we respond to one of the worst natural disasters in our state's history, we refuse to let April 27 define our future, and hosting Kenny Chesney is another step forward to a new tomorrow. On behalf of the city of Tuscaloosa, I want to thank Kenny and his team for their generosity and compassion. It is the kindness of others that will carry us through as we rebuild Tuscaloosa."

Chesney, whose 2011 'Goin' Coastal' Tour marks his return to the US stage after taking last year off, considered postponing the date, but was convinced by Maddox that the concert would be tremendously positive to the community, both emotionally and as a fundraising boon.

"When we first heard about this tragedy, we were stunned, as we have so many fans in the area and have enjoyed every visit that we've made there over the years," Chesney said. "But Mayor Maddox convinced us that this is a great opportunity to bring the people of Tuscaloosa together in a positive way, and we are grateful for the opportunity to help them in this way."