Kenny Chesney to Donate All Tuscaloosa Show Fees to Tornado Relief

Kenny Chesney is set to play Tuscaloosa, Ala., on May 25, a stop on his hugely popular Goin' Coastal tour. The country superstar has announced he will donate all of his fees from the show, as well as those earned by his band, management and booking representatives, to support the victims of the April 27 tornado that devastated the city. The fees will be donated to GiveTuscaloosa.com, a clearinghouse for local charities and social services founded specifically to address the needs of those affected by the disaster.

Although he initially considered postponing the date, Kenny was convinced by Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox that the concert would prove helpful to the community, both emotionally and as a way to help raise funds. "When we first heard about this tragedy we were stunned, as we have so many fans in the area and have enjoyed every visit that we've made there over the years," says Kenny. "But Mayor Maddox convinced us that this is a great opportunity to bring the people of Tuscaloosa together in a positive way, and we are grateful for the opportunity to help them in this way."

"Thanks to the resilience and compassion of our community, the city of Tuscaloosa is in the process of healing," says Mayor Maddox. "On this road to recovery, the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater plans to host Kenny Chesney on May 25th as scheduled. As we respond to one of the worst natural disasters in our state's history, we refuse to let April 27th define our future and hosting Kenny Chesney is another step forward to a new tomorrow. On behalf of the City of Tuscaloosa, I want to thank Kenny and his team for their generosity and compassion. It is the kindness of others that will carry us through as we rebuild Tuscaloosa."

For more information or to make donations to GiveTuscaloosa.com, call 205-758-7588 or visit www.givetuscaloosa.com. Contributions may be made by making checks payable to "Tuscaloosa Disaster Relief Fund" and mailing them to P.O. Box 020410, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401.

The April 27 tornadoes ripped through seven southern states, including the hardest hit, Alabama, killing 329 people.

In 2010, Kenny was among the artists who participated in Jimmy Buffett's benefit concert for those affected by the oil-spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

Kenny's Goin' Coastal tour marks the singer's return to the concert stage after taking a year off from full-scale touring. A month into the trek, his tour netted more revenue in one week than another top concert draw, Lady Gaga. The Goin' Coastal tour continues with a stop in Jacksonville, Fla., tonight. (May 12). See his tour schedule here.