st. jude

The Swon Brothers were familiar with the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital long before competing on 'The Voice' or signing a country record deal. Zach and Colton Swon say their mom has been a longtime supporter of the children's hospital. Still, visiting there for the first time was much different than what they expected.

Like so many country stars, Billy Currington remembers expecting his first St. Jude visit to be depressing -- they are treating sick kids after all, he figured. If there's one lesson to remember from Taste of Country's two-day webathon, however, it's that that couldn't be further from the truth.

Tyler Farr goes out of his way to help children -- especially the children at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The 'Whiskey in My Water' singer has made it to three of the last four Country Cares seminars, forging strong relationships with patients and families each time.

In March 2010, Jennifer Bates found herself in a spot every mother can relate to. Her 2-year-old son Tyler was sick -- vomiting, low energy, dizziness, sore muscles -- and she sensed there was something very wrong that doctors weren't fixing with standard treatments. For three weeks, she worried and kept a close eye on him as she tended to her eight-month-old triplets.

For Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line, it wasn't always just about the music. From the earliest days of their musical partnership and friendship, the two men knew they wanted to use their songs to provide opportunities for those in need. The St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is a great avenue for that generosity.

Chase Rice watched his dad go out of his way to bring smiles to the faces of kids in children's hospitals, and now he wants to do the same. The 'Ready Set Roll' singer talked to Taste of Country in support of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and in memory of his father, Daniel, who died of a heart attack while battling malignant melanoma.

Mike Eli and his Eli Young Band bandmates don't have to look far for reasons why St. Jude is important. The longtime college buddies now have wives and kids, as well as a greater understanding for how precious life is.

The first weeks after childbirth are precious. Ideally, it's a time to bond with baby, but it's also a chance for mom to recover physically and emotionally. Mandy Moody's postpartum experience with her third child Lela was rudely interrupted when doctors discovered the strange glow in the little girl's left eye was actually retinoblastoma, a rare and malignant form of cancer.

Country stars get some cool opportunities, but Justin Moore says getting to visit and talk about St. Jude is the best.

Despite a few heartbreaking stories and one or two emotional country artists, Taste of Country readers learned that the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is a happy place during Day 1 of the 2014 ToC/St. Jude webathon. That was message from no fewer than five country stars, plus the families of two former patients.

Lee Brice is a longtime supporter of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The ‘I Don’t Dance’ singer lit up when asked to talk about what the Memphis-based medical campus means to him. He admits it means something different now that he has two little boys at home.

Country newcomers Dan + Shay had their St. Jude baptism in January during the 25th annual Country Cares seminar. Hundreds of radio and country music industry personnel join a few dozen artists and label representatives each year to learn about the latest in care and research at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Then, they get to meet some of the patients.