Feel-Good Friday: Uplifting Country News From Dolly Parton, Jennifer Nettles & Thomas Rhett

What news made you feel good this week?

Written by Annie Reuter
Feel-Good Friday: Uplifting Country News From Dolly Parton, Jennifer Nettles & Thomas Rhett
Dolly Parton performing with the dulcimer at her 50th Anniversary concert at the Grand Ole Opry / © Grand Ole Opry | Photo by Chris Hollo

Welcome to Feel-Good Friday, a weekly roundup of heartwarming stories, lighthearted videos, and inspiring country news that reminds us all there is still good in the world.

Bobby Bones teams up with Purina for Service Dog Salute campaign

Radio and television personality Bobby Bones has joined forces with Purina Dog Chow to launch the brand’s third annual Service Dog Salute in celebration of National Service Dog Awareness Month. The campaign aims to tribute our veterans and the dogs that serve them. Through Service Dog Salute, Bones will help raise awareness of the impact service dogs can have on veterans suffering PTSD through donations. Often only 1% of veterans can acquire a service dog because of the cost and extensive training time, and this campaign aims to increase that percentage.

Brad Paisley & Kimberly Williams-Paisley donate 1 million meals to those in need

The Paisleys have partnered with Tiller & Hatch and Feeding America to help deliver 1 million meals to those in need. Brad and Kimberly serve as co-founders of Tiller & Hatch, a brand of nutritious and wholesome frozen meals, that will be making stops in 15 cities to share frozen, chef-crafted Tiller & Hatch meals to local communities nationwide.

These are tough times, but we’re all in this together – and it’s important to lend a helping hand when you can,” the singer captions on Instagram. “More than 54 million people may experience food insecurity in 2020, including 1 in 4 children. Help us help them. Visit tour.tillerandhatch.com to learn how.”

Dolly Parton donates crystal-studded dulcimer to charity

Dolly Parton performing with the dulcimer at her 50th Anniversary concert at the Grand Ole Opry / © Grand Ole Opry | Photo by Chris Hollo

Parton is giving back during Covid-19 by donating her prized Swarovski crystal-studded dulcimer to Christie’s for an auction benefiting ACM Lifting Lives’ Covid-19 response fund. Parton used the instrument while performing at the Grand Ole Opry in 2019 during her 50th anniversary celebration.

“Seeing my country music community suffer due to the pandemic has broken my heart,” Parton says. “It was important to donate the dulcimer that was designed for my 50th Opry Anniversary so we can raise awareness and much needed funds to keep these folks on their feet before we can open the doors to our stages once again.”

Jennifer Nettles & Bon Jovi Duet On “Do What You Can”

Nettles has teamed up with Bon Jovi again on a timely duet titled “Do What You Can.” The country singer’s new single was penned by Jon Bon Jovi in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. The accompanying music video was filmed in New York City and highlights the change that Covid-19 has brought to many with social distancing and masks as the pair urge, “When you can’t do what you do/ You do what you can.”

“In 2005, Jennifer helped Bon Jovi take ‘Who Says you Can’t Go Home’ to number one on the country charts. It was her powerful and emotion filled voice that I hope will carry us back onto the country airwaves again to share this uplifting message of unity,” says Jon Bon Jovi.

Adds Nettles, “Being invited to sing with Bon Jovi back in 2005 on ‘Who Says You Can’t Go Home’ was a real blessing as an artist and in my career. I could not be happier to continue that amazing musical story on our new duet ‘Do What You Can.’”

Miranda Lambert’s #Glamjam returns

https://twitter.com/mirandalambert/status/1306383407434301442?s=21

Lambert’s famous #glamjam sessions have taken a backseat during the pandemic, but that all changed this week for the Academy of Country Music Awards. Ahead of the awards show, Lambert filmed a clip in between getting dolled up with her glam squad for a tour bus rendition of Aretha Franklin’s “I Say a Little Prayer.” While holding makeup brushes, hairbrushes and lint rollers, the team belted Franklin’s memorable hit.

Thomas Rhett celebrates 16 chart topping hits

Ahead of Rhett’s tie with Carrie Underwood for ACM Entertainer of the Year this week, the singer celebrated 16 No. 1 hits. In a heartfelt message on Instagram, the singer-songwriter reflected on his journey to radio success after garnering his 16th hit with “Be a Light.”

“Some people don’t realize that my first single to radio didn’t make it to number one,” he captions. “I had just spent the past year and a half of my life on the road meeting radio programmers and country music fans- many of whom I’m still friends with today- and despite working over 300 days that year- my song didn’t make it to the top. The next one didn’t either. Then, like many things in life- timing and luck and all that work came together and ‘It Goes Like This’ became my first number one song and I started to see my whole word shift.”