MOC Celebrates Music Heals Live! Raising $700,000

Musicians On Call brought together some of country music’s biggest stars Wednesday, May 20 for Music Heals Live!, a celebration of the healing power of music. Held at The Pinnacle in Nashville, the landmark event honored the volunteers and champions who have helped MOC deliver the healing power of music to more than 1.25 million patients, families, and caregivers across the country for over 25 years.

The record-breaking evening raised more than $700,000 to support Musicians On Call’s bedside, virtual, songwriting and streaming programs nationwide while performances from country music icons Wynonna and Vince Gill, and rising star Belle Frantz helped make this one of the organization’s most memorable events to date.

Multimedia entertainment icon Reba McEntire received the Music Heals Golden Ukulele in recognition of her longstanding support of Musicians On Call. Through fundraising campaigns and virtual and live programs, McEntire has brought joy to patients and healthcare teams across the country.

In the days leading up to the event, McEntire continued to champion the mission of Musicians On Call. Alongside fellow country artist Terri Clark, McEntire visited the Nashville VA Medical Center for a bedside performance program, bringing smiles, gratitude, and live music directly to veterans receiving care. Read more about the visit in PEOPLE.

After a moving video highlighting McEntire’s many contributions to Musicians On Call over the past decade, including in-person and virtual visits with patients and caregivers across the country, she walked out to a standing ovation and shared, “Music brings light into dark times and gives hope when everything feels hopeless. That’s the power of music. Tonight is about the caregivers who take care of all of us in our most challenging times. It’s about the patients. The ones who have gone on and the ones who have survived. It’s about the singers and musicians who go room-to-room putting smiles on people’s faces. This honor is something I’ll always cherish because I get to share it with you all. Time is very precious, and to give time is the most important thing of all right there with love and kindness. So what you all do, I applaud you and I thank you and we’ll continue coming to see the patients and the caregivers. And we’ll take it day-by-day, and note-by-note.”

Mitch Glazier, Chairman & CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Chairman Emeritus of the MOC Board of Directors, received the Leadership in Music Golden Ukulele, presented in a surprise moment by country music star Martina McBride. Glazier has championed the organization’s mission for more than a decade, playing a pivotal role in launching MOC’s Washington, D.C. program and raising millions of dollars in support of its work.

The evening also recognized standout Musicians On Call volunteers from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Boston for their extraordinary service to patients and caregivers. MOC Co-Founder Michael Solomon presented the Vivek J. Tiwary Volunteer Guide Golden Ukuleles to Stan Garrison, Daisy Perez, and Dianna Perez in recognition of their exceptional dedication. Longtime MOC ambassador, frequent bedside performer, and National Board member Charles Esten then presented Jeff Scornavacca and Keenan Kamae with the Michael Solomon Volunteer Musician Golden Ukulele. Collectively, these five volunteers have delivered the healing power of music to more than 70,000 patients and caregivers.

Comedian, actress, and longtime friend of McEntire’s, Melissa Peterman, made a surprise appearance, delighting the crowd and serving as MC for the festivities. A very special moment of the night was Peterman’s conversation with MOC Program Advocates, Tomas, Kirstin and Luca Czernek. The Czernek family shared how much joy MOC’s volunteers regularly brought Luca during his leukemia treatments, adding that he is now eight months cancer-free.

Belle Frantz performed a beautiful rendition of McEntire’s hit “The Last One to Know,” while Vince Gill honored McEntire with a few stories of their friendship over the years and sang “One More Last Chance,” “Go Rest High on that Mountain,” and “Whenever You Come Around.” Music and friendship remained on full display as Wynonna came straight from the rehearsal hall for her upcoming tour to celebrate McEntire and step in for Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood who were unable to attend. Wynonna said, “Music brings us together, and this is what we do. We show up for each other,” before she and her band treated the audience to fan-favorites “Why Not Me,” “Only Love,” a debut of her brand-new song “Girl Who Could Sing,” before closing out the night with “No One Else on Earth.”

“We are deeply grateful to the over 500 supporters, volunteers, and caregivers who joined us to celebrate Musicians On Call’s national impact and help us raise over $700,000 to bring the healing power of music to healthcare facilities across the country,” said Musicians On Call President & CEO, Pete Griffin.

Music Heals Live! was made possible through the generous support of presenting sponsor RIAA, alongside HCA Healthcare, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Milton and Denice Johnson, and the National Music Publishers’ Association. The American Hospital Association served as a premier event partner, sponsoring an exclusive Caregiver Lounge for healthcare professionals in celebration of National Hospital Week.

The Music Heals Live! Host Committee included Michele Ballantyne (RIAA), Jackie Jones (RIAA), Marcel Pariseau (True Public Relations), Diane Pearson (City National Bank), Deb Reiner (HCA Healthcare), Joe Riccitelli (Golden Retriever Entertainment), Rondal Richardson (Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee), Todd Rubin (Hughston Clinic Orthopaedics), Michael Solomon (10x Management), and Rick Whetsel (G7 Entertainment Marketing).