Mountain Aid: Music for Healing, Strength for Tomorrow – A Night of Hope for Appalachia
In the wake of the devastating aftermath left by Hurricane Helene, the Appalachians are uniting for a powerful night of music, community, and compassion. This November 14, the Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City, Tennessee, will host Mountain Aid: Music for Healing, Strength for Tomorrow, a benefit concert organized by bluegrass sensations Chosen Road and presented by Food City. Featuring a star-studded lineup, this event promises to be an unforgettable evening dedicated to bringing relief and resilience to Western North Carolina and East Tennessee. All proceeds will benefit Samaritan’s Purse, a trusted humanitarian organization with a long legacy of providing spiritual and physical support in times of need.
Headlining Mountain Aid is none other than GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter and Grand Ole Opry inductee Steven Curtis Chapman, whose heartfelt lyrics have moved audiences worldwide. Joining Chapman are a host of top Christian music talents, including Dove Award-winning artist Brandon Heath, platinum-selling group Point of Grace, and fan-favorite GRAMMY winner Jason Crabb. Appalachia’s own bluegrass leaders Darin & Brooke Aldridge, beloved humorist Sean Dietrich (known as Sean of the South), and the dynamic Jason Lovins Band are also set to take the stage, along with powerhouse vocalist TaRanda Greene and concert organizers, Chosen Road. Each artist brings their unique style and passion to create a lineup as diverse as it is inspiring, underscoring the collective spirit of the Appalachian community.
Jonathan Buckner, co-founder of Chosen Road, shared the group’s motivation behind organizing Mountain Aid. “When we heard how many of our friends and neighbors in Western North Carolina and East Tennessee were affected, we knew we had to take action,” Buckner said. “These mountains and the people who call them home have shaped our music, and we owe so much to them. Our prayer is that Mountain Aid will not only help raise funds and bring hope to those in need but, most importantly, make an eternal impact in Appalachia.”
Point of Grace’s Shelley Breen echoed this sentiment, underscoring the profound impact of this natural disaster on communities that mean so much to her and her bandmates. “The images we have seen are beyond heartbreaking, and we will not forget the victims as they try to rebuild their lives,” Breen said. “Lending our voices to encourage and raise funds for them is truly an honor.”
The Jason Lovins Band brings a particularly personal touch to Mountain Aid, as lead singer Jason Lovins grew up in the heart of Appalachia. “I was born and raised in these mountains, and the people of Appalachia helped make me who I am,” Lovins shared. “Mountain Aid has already brought so many together, and it’s going be special! It’s an honor for the Jason Lovins Band to be a part of something that I have a feeling people are going to talk about for years to come.”
All proceeds from the event will go directly to Samaritan’s Purse, a nondenominational Christian organization with decades of experience offering both physical and spiritual support to those in need. With projects around the globe, Samaritan’s Purse has mobilized in response to Hurricane Helene to bring resources, skilled teams, and compassionate care to the impacted regions of Appalachia.
With “Mountain Aid” promising an evening of healing and unity, Appalachia is set to witness a moment of hope that will echo long after the final note has been played. As Chosen Road, Steven Curtis Chapman, and so many cherished artists prepare to take the stage, they do so with a message: Appalachia is resilient, Appalachia is united, and Appalachia will rise once more.
