CMT Awards 2009 Benefit Several Charities

CMT Awards 2009 on CMT Tonight

The CMT Awards 2009 are here. One great thing about the CMT Awards is that musical artists get recognized for their work. However, I think the best thing about the CMT Awards 2009 (and every other year, for that matter) is that they benefit several deserving charities.

Instead of giving the winning artists, who are no doubt already rich or in some cases Big & Rich, payday cash, the CMT Awards 2009 will make a donation to the charity of the winner’s choice.

Know who to root for

Most viewers of the CMT Awards will simply root for their favorite artists, videos and songs. That’s the most fun part, and no matter who wins, well-deserving charities will still get donations.

But for those of you who’d rather root for the charity organization, I checked out just a few of the organizations that nominees for CMT Awards Video of the Year chose to receive donations in the case they win.

MusiCares

Sugarland was nominated for the music video “All I Want to Do,” and has chosen MusiCares to receive a donation in the event they win the title. The CMT Awards 2009 web site says:

MusiCares provides financial assistance, confidential resources and a safety net of services to music people in times of need. We offer support for a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies.

Any win for Sugarland means a donation for MusiCares. Sugarland also is nominated for Duo of the Year for “Already Gone” and for Collaborative Video of the Year and CMT Performance of the Year for “Life in a Northern Town.” Donations will also be made to MusiCares if Trey Fanjoy wins CMT Awards 2009 Director of the Year.

CMT One Country

Kid Rock’s video “All Summer Long” is on the list of Video of the Year wannabes, and in the case he wins, the money will go to CMT One Country.

CMT One Country was created to inspire our viewers to take action in their own communities by demonstrating great acts of kindness, civic participation and volunteerism through on-air, on-line and grassroots efforts. CMT One Country gives our viewers an opportunity to have a voice about what’s going on in their lives and those in their community.

Kid Rock’s video is also nominated for CMT Awards 2009 Wide Open Country Video of the Year. CMT One Country will also receive donations if “Bartender Song” wins that category. A donation will be made in Alan Jackson’s name if “Country Boy” wins Performance of the Year.

PlanIt Now

Kenny Chesney has chosen PlanIt Now to get a donation if his video “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven” wins. The CMT Awards 2009 web site says:

PLAN!T NOW provides people, communities and companies who are in high-risk regions the relief information they need to protect their families, homes, businesses, resources and documents from the effects of severe storms and hurricane-related disasters.

Chesney’s video was also nominated for CMT Awards 2009 Best Collaborative Video.

Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

Rascal Flatts chose this charity. Rascal Flatts was nominated for Video of the Year for “Every Day.”

Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt is a nationally ranked provider of pediatric health care with 222 beds dedicated to high-level care, sub-specialty treatment and trauma care. A place to hope and a place to heal, Children’s Hospital includes the family as an essential element of every child’s treatment plan.

Rascal Flatts also was nominated for CMT Awards 2009 Group Video of the Year for “Bob That Head.”  Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt will also receive donations if Brooks & Dunn win Duo of the Year, or if “Country Boy” wins CMT Performance of the Year.

The official CMT Awards 2009 web site has information all nominees and their charities of choice, so check it out if you want to learn more about the charities or find out which stars picked the American Red Cross, The Humane Society and The Elton John AIDS foundation.