Ashley McBryde To Host ‘Homes For The Holidays’ TV Special Presented By Tunnel To Towers

Homes for the Holidays, a TV special hosted by Ashley McBryde, is set to air from Thanksgiving weekend through New Year’s Day across multiple network affiliates, including Fox, Scripps, and Gray stations.

Presented by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, the organization invited a variety of country music artists to present Gold Star and fallen first responder families with mortgage-free homes during the event. The TV special will feature Cole Hauser from Yellowstone, Travis Tritt, Bret Michaels, Ian Munsick, Runaway June, and Robert Randolph.

“What better way to celebrate the meaning of the holiday season than by helping Tunnel to Towers showcase the love, resilience and hope of these military and first responder families,” McBryde shares.

Throughout the special, families will share their stories and discuss how the organization impacted their lives. The show was filmed all over the U.S., including at The Mulehouse in Columbia, Tennessee; Santa’s Pub in Nashville’; and more.

“For our Gold Star families and fallen first responder families, every day without their hero is painful, but the holiday season can bring about its own particular wave of grief. At the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, our hope is that the security of a mortgage-free home, the guarantee that they will never have to leave the place where they created so many holiday memories, eases that burden of grief just a little bit,” explains Tunnel to Towers Chairman and CEO Frank Siller. “We have a very special relationship with the country music community, and it means the world to us that Ashley, Cole, Travis, Bret, Ian, the members of Runaway June, and Robert Randolph & The Family Band are supporting us in our mission.”

Since Sept. 11, 2001, Tunnel to Towers has been helping America’s heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children, and by building custom-designed smart homes for injured veterans and first responders.

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BREAKING: Alabama’s Jeff Cook Dies At 73

Jeff Cook. Photo: Alan Messer

Jeff Cook, a founding member and guitarist of the country supergroup Alabama, passed away peacefully on Monday (Nov. 7) at his home in Destin, Florida. Cook was a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Musicians Hall of Fame, Fiddlers Hall of Fame and Gibson’s Guitarist of the Year.

Jeff Cook

Born Jeffrey Alan Cook in Fort Payne, Alabama on August 27, 1949, he began playing guitar and keyboards in bands by the age of 13. After securing a broadcast license at age 14, Cook went to work as a disc jockey at a local Fort Payne radio station. He eventually went on to own radio and TV stations. Cook graduated from Fort Payne High School and went to college at Gadsden State Community College, earning a degree in Electronic Technology.

Cook formed Alabama along with cousins Teddy Gentry and Randy Owen. After six years of hard work, the band earned a record deal and the rest was history. Alabama became one of the most successful acts in country music history, selling more than 80 million albums and charting 43 No. 1 hits. Their iconic hits include “Song of the South,” “Dixieland Delight,” “I’m in a Hurry (And Don’t Know Why),” “Mountain Music,” “Take Me Down,” “Feels So Right,” “If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band),” and many more.

Alabama’s Jeff Cook, Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry. Photo: Rick Diamond

Alabama was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005. Cook’s technical skill was an integral part of their success. The accomplished musician could play piano, guitar, fiddle, bass guitar, banjo, mandolin, and more. He is credited for introducing the electric double neck guitar to country music.

Jeff Cook married the love of his life, Lisa Williams, on June 9, 1995. The Cooks resided in “Cook Castle” atop Lookout Mountain in Fort Payne, Alabama, as well as in Guntersville, Alabama and Destin/Miramar Beach, Florida. Cook also built Cook Sound Studios in Fort Payne, which allowed him to help musicians share their music with others.

The award-winning guitarist was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2012. He stopped touring with Alabama in 2018 due to his diagnosis. He was known for his positive attitude despite his physical challenges.

Cook is survived by his wife of 27 years Lisa Cook, beloved puppies Blazer and Blakely, his mother Betty Cook, his brother David Cook, Crystal Cook, his father-in-law Jerrial Williams, his brother-in-law Randy Williams and many nieces and nephews. Cook was preceded in death by his father James Cook and his mother-in-law, JoAnn Williams.

With his profound desire to help others, The Jeff and Lisa Cook Foundation was formed along with The Jeff and Lisa Cook Children’s Home to house orphaned children worldwide, starting in the Philippines. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the foundation.

Arrangements for Cook’s Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.

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FCC Commissioner Doubles Down on TikTok Ban – “This Is Broad & Bipartisan”

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr has reiterated his view that TikTok should be banned in comments to Bloomberg. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) commissioner Brendan Carr spoke with the outlet to explain why he believes the social media app should not be allowed to operate in the United States. “I don’t believe there is a path […]

The post FCC Commissioner Doubles Down on TikTok Ban – “This Is Broad & Bipartisan” appeared first on Digital Music News.

The overseas giants swallowing Australia’s live music industry

Senior music industry figures are for the first time sounding the alarm over the takeover of the Australian live music industry by US-based corporate giants, including a company that counts the government of Saudi Arabia as one of its biggest shareholders.

The Sydney Morning Herald

Elon Musk says Twitter will soon ‘share revenue with content creators’. Will that include music?

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MBW

Social Media and The 2022 Midterm Elections: How Social Media Has Changed the Democratic Process

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