Tim McGraw Speaks Out Against Bullies

Tim McGraw, like most people, has been affected by recent headlines detailing the devastating results of bullying on children and young adults. In response, Tim made a surprise appearance at Grassland Middle School in Franklin, Tenn. last week. He didn't perform, but instead, he was there to talk to the students about how to stop the escalating bullying that seems to be taking place in schools across the nation.

According to Nashville's Tennessean newspaper, Tim was invited to speak by his 11-year-old nephew, Jace Jewell, a sixth-grader at Grassland. The country superstar punctuated his speech with the story about a "compassionate and loving" 13-year-old boy named Asher Brown who committed suicide last month after being taunted by his classmates at a Texas middle school. "He was bullied to death," said Tim, who was recently honored at the Men Stopping Violence event in Atlanta. He encouraged the students to help prevent bullying from happening to their friends and classmates by speaking up, walking away and not falling in the trap of becoming a bully.

The singer never really thought of speaking at a school rally, but felt the subject was something he could not ignore, especially as the father of three daughters, ranging in age from 13 to eight-years-old. "It's not really my forte," Tim said after the assembly. "But after Jace asked me to come and speak about this, I got some of my talking points together. I think it's important for the students to hear. Anything I can do to stop bullying is what I'll do."

Tim is heading up the country charts with his new single, 'Felt Good on My Lips,' which is a bonus track on his upcoming 'Number One Hits' album, due November 30. See the double-disc set's album art and full track listing here.