| George Strait Special Raises $750K for ACM Charity |
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 The "George Strait: ACM Artist of the Decade" special taped in Las Vegas last April netted the ACM Lifting Lives charity $750,000, the Academy of Country Music announced this week. The endowment is the second payment in a three-year commitment made by the ACM to the charity. The charity aims to "improve lives through music."The sold-out concert at the MGM Grand Garden Arena drew more than 10 million viewers when the special was aired on CBS in May and featured performances by Strait, Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift and many others. "The artists who gave of their time in April are the reason we can make this announcement today," said Bob Romeo, Executive Director of the Academy of Country Music. "They put their time and energy into the Artist of the Decade taping, and they asked for nothing in return. They showed up, they blew the doors off the house and the ratings through the roof, reaching millions of fans with the message of ACM Lifting Lives. " "The artists work every day to improve the lives of others with their craft," said Erin Spahn, Director of ACM Lifting Lives. "With this endowment, their good work continues through the programs Lifting Lives supports. We are so thankful to them." |