Montgomery Gentry Build a Playground in Kentucky

Montgomery Gentry's Troy Gentry and Eddie Montgomery got in some manual labor this week, building a playground at Booker T. Washington Academy in Lexington, Ky. The the pair teamed with Kaboom! for the project, which is part of their 2010 Academy of Country Music/The Home Depot Humanitarian award.

"It's a little embarrassing for us," Troy said upon receiving the honor. "We feel like we're being put in the spotlight. There are are so many great artists in this format that do so many great things for so many people throughout the year. To be spotlighted is very humbling and very much an honor, but kind of embarrassing at the same time."

"Thanks to everyone out there who has helped us to get where we are today," Eddie Montgomery followed up. "We just want to make sure we do our part in making the world a little better."

More than 200 volunteers from local Home Depot stores and the community participated in the build at the first fan-voted playground build site. The new facility has slides, climbers, interactive panels, monkey bars and swings, which were built by Eddie and Troy. In addition, the volunteers built an outdoor classroom and community boards, recycling bins, planter benches and raised garden beds.

Eddie and Troy also installed the playground sign and posed for photographs with all of the volunteers. The Kentucky-natives showed their appreciation to the fans and the community as well, for voting to bring the build "home."

The fulfilling day ended with the Academy's students presenting letters with research they'd conducted about how important play is to their development. Then the children sang an original song thanking Montgomery Gentry and the volunteers, before performing the duo's 'My Town.'

Montgomery Gentry are known for their charity work with numerous organizations including the TJ Martell Foundation, the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Lexington's Camp Horsin' Around, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Hospice of the Bluegrass, Multiple Myeloma Foundation and Leukemia & Lymphoma Foundation.