Martina McBride Will Paint the Town Pink
Martina McBride will celebrate several firsts the week of Oct. 9: she will be the first singer to perform a private concert at the Empire State Building in New York City, and she will release 'Eleven,' her first album for her new record label, Republic Nashville.
Prior to her concert on Oct. 14 at the Empire State Building, Martina will pull a switch that turns the historic building pink to spread awareness for breast cancer. Then, the angelic voiced songbird will participate in an invitation-only reception and a private show, which will air exclusively on Clear Channel Radio's websites.
It will be an exciting week for Martina, whose other first will be a train trek from Los Angeles to New York City, 'ELEVEN Across America Powered by Amtrak,' with stops in eleven cities as she travels across the U.S. promoting her new music. The Amtrak train ride will include mini-concerts at three undisclosed locations, as well as meets-and-greets with fans and breast cancer survivors.
Martina's current single, 'I'm Gonna Love You Through It,' is about surviving cancer. The song was inspired by Lily Isaacs, the mother of singer/songwriter Sonya Isaacs, who co-wrote the tune with her husband Jimmy Yeary and Ben Hayslip.
"When they were writing the song, they called me to ask me about my thoughts and experiences," Lily, a breast cancer survivor, tells The Boot. "I was very honest with them, and I think the song is a very honest look at going through the disease. I was honored to be a part of the video." [Watch the video below.]
Lily is shown in the opening shot of the video for 'I'm Gonna Love You Through It.' The clip features several real cancer survivors and their supporters, including four well-known celebrities: ABC's Robin Roberts, who anchors 'Good Morning America'; NBC's Hoda Kotb, who anchors the last hour of the 'Today Show'; singer Sheryl Crow and former CBS news anchor Katie Couric.
"The first time I heard 'I'm Gonna Love You Through It,' I got chills from my head to my toes," Martina says. "I get chills every time I sing it live. I've heard from so many people that this song has touched their lives. To be able to sing this from such an iconic place as the Empire State Building among breast cancer survivors and their supporters will be an incredibly special and meaningful experience for me."
"Each October we look forward to lighting the Empire State Building pink in an effort to raise awareness for breast cancer," says Melanie Maasch, Director of Brand Development and Public Relations for the Empire State Building. "To have an artist of Martina McBride's caliber not only light the building but also perform at the building is a true honor and something we are very much looking forward to this month."
Martina, who is known for supporting women's causes including her annual YWCA benefit, says, "October 14th will be a very special day to send a collective message of hope to breast cancer patients, survivors and their supporters as we turn one of the world's most popular landmarks pink."
Martina is partnering with Stanford Women's Cancer Center to perform the concert at the Empire State Building. The new Stanford Women's Cancer Center, which opened June 27, provides comprehensive, compassionate care for women with breast and gynecologic cancers.