Willie Nelson & Tourmates Donate Fees to Tornado Victims

As the Country Throwdown gets ready to kick off this weekend, Willie Nelson is already counting on pocketing a little less revenue than he originally planned. The 78-year-old announced he, as well as several other artists on the tour, will be donating performance income from the upcoming show in Orange Beach, Alabama, to the state's recovery efforts following the deadly storms that ravaged the state last month.

"I am saddened by the devastation in Alabama from the recent tornadoes that have hit that state," he writes on his website. "In an effort to pitch in, I am going to donate my income for the upcoming Throwdown date in Orange Beach on June 5. I believe this will assist the relief effort in that state to help people in real need."

Randy Houser, Craig Campbell, Lee Brice, Caitlyn Smith and Alabama resident Adam Hood are a few of the other stars who have already pledged their performance fee as well. "You never know how devastating things are until they hit close to home," Adam explains. "Alabama is still where I hang my hat and this has changed the lives of many of my friends, family, peers, and supporters, and mine as well."

The 24-city tour kicks off on Friday, May 27, in Philadelphia, Pa, and will include stops in Tennessee, Georgia, Colorado and California, before wrapping up at Billy Bob's in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 4, as part of Willie's legendary Independence Day picnic.

See the entire Country Throwdown schedule here.