By: Chris Talbott
© 2015 CMA Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc.
Kix Brooks struggled mightily with the idea somebody wanted to spend an entire night talking about how great he is.
“Can you imagine what it feels like to be me tonight?” Brooks asked the crowd as he accepted the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award on Monday night at City Winery in Nashville.
The acclaimed artist, radio personality, and member of the CMA Board of Directors took in an hour of video salutes and personal tributes as close friends like Reba and Terry Bradshaw, as well as representatives from organizations he’s helped over the years gathered to honor the first winner of the Country Music Association’s newest award. “Tonight we’re so glad to be here to help celebrate the guy in the black hat who’s also wearing a white hat,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern.
Brooks told the crowd he had spent a lot of time in the last week wondering how to take the celebration. It wasn’t so much the attention, “That’s why I’m a hillbilly singer in the first place,” as it was the idea what he does is special in an organization full of philanthropists.
“I can pull out every person in this room and tell you something they have done that is so significant and so meaningful to some organization or something in their community, something they’ve given to, something they’ve put their heart into, and to be singled out in this group of people is embarrassing to me,” said Brooks.
He finally decided he could live with it because the night was an excuse to get together and encourage each other to give more.
“This is a good thing that we’re doing,” he said. “Now all the sudden this feels right to me. Not because it’s about me, but because it’s about us.”
Brooks, one half of legendary Country duo Brooks & Dunn, is involved in a number of charitable activities that have directed millions of dollars and countless volunteer hours to the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, the Monroe Harding Children’s Home, the USO, Operation Finally Home, Louisiana Tech, and many other organizations. And at CMA he’s been proactive in focusing the organization’s mission, helping to organize programs to fund music education in Nashville schools, and provide health insurance for members.
Dr. John Branch told the crowd of Brooks’ impact on the Children’s Hospital: “Kix is basically the Pied Piper of the Children’s Hospital. He’s inspired so many people to get involved in what we are and what we do.”
Reba presented the award to her close friend. She noted they’ve been friends for more than 20 years, before leaning against the lectern and saying, “I’ve got a few stories on Kix.” “We’re running short on time,” Brooks shouted from the crowd.
Brooks told the crowd one of his father’s favorite stories: The one about the chicken and the pig who wanted to cook breakfast for their kindly farmer. “The chicken says, ‘Awesome, I’ll cook a couple of eggs up here and you provide the bacon.’ The pig says, ‘Well, for you that’s a gift. For me that’s a full commitment.’ My dad had a thing he’d say when you were bragging about the little gift that you’ve done for the world, he would say, ‘You need to be a little more piggish.’
“I’m a chicken, OK? That’s the truth of the matter and I’m not afraid to stand here an admit it. But the fact that all of you are here tonight and think that I’m a little bit more than that, I’m going to leave here tonight and I’m going to go back out into the world and I’m going to be a little more piggish.”
Revered Country Music Hall of Fame member Reba presented the first CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award to acclaimed artist, radio personality, entrepreneur, and esteemed member of the CMA Board of Directors Kix Brooks at a prestigious evening in his honor Monday at City Winery in Nashville.
“Can you imagine what it feels like to be me tonight?” Brooks asked the crowd as he accepted the Award. “But ultimately it’s not about me; it’s about every person in this room who is putting their heart into something meaningful and something significant in their community.”
On hand to honor Brooks was fellow CMA Board member and artist Chris Young, as well as representatives from the numerous charitable partners Brooks has worked with over the years including the CMA Foundation, Louisiana Tech, Monroe Harding Children’s Home, Operation Finally Home, the USO, and Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.
“Thanks to his contributions in the creation of the CMA Foundation and in the birth of CMA Instrumental Healthcare, as well as to the efforts he has volunteered to the other great causes represented here tonight, Kix’s philanthropic endeavors will be as highly regarded as his many musical contributions,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “CMA is honored to be able to present our first ever CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award to Kix Brooks.”
The CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award was developed by the CMA Awards and Recognition Committee and approved by the CMA Foundation. The Award recognizes an individual who has served as a humanitarian through community leadership, financial support, personal volunteerism, and advocacy.
Brooks has been an active member of the CMA Board of Directors since 1998. During this 17-year period, Brooks contributed to the unprecedented growth of the organization and was instrumental in creating and developing several initiatives that have touched the lives of countless members of the music community including the CMA Songwriters Series, which just celebrated its 10th anniversary, and the creation of an affordable medical insurance program for CMA members known as CMA Instrumental Healthcare.
It was his leadership and vision that created CMA’s “Keep the Music Playing” program, which was the forerunner of the CMA Foundation. The program receives funding through CMA Music Festival with half of the net proceeds from the event given as grants to support music education programs across the country on behalf of the artists who perform for free. To date, the CMA Foundation has donated more than $11 million to this worthy cause.
In addition to being a true humanitarian for CMA, Brooks also serves on the Board of the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, Monroe Harding Children’s Home, Tennessee Tourism Board, Nashville Convention Center and Visitors Bureau, Blue Ribbon Committee, Operation Finally Home, and Veterans Matter.
Founded in 1958, the Country Music Association was the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. In 1961, CMA created the Country Music Hall of Fame to recognize artists and industry professionals with Country Music’s highest honor. More than 7,400 music industry professionals and companies from around the globe are members of CMA. The organization’s objectives are to serve as an educational and professional resource for the industry and advance the growth of Country Music around the world. This is accomplished through CMA’s core initiatives: the CMA Awards, which annually recognize outstanding achievement in the industry; CMA Music Festival, which benefits music education and is taped for a three-hour TV special; and “CMA Country Christmas,” featuring Country artists performing original music and Christmas classics. All of CMA’s television properties will air on the ABC Television network through 2021. For more information, visit CMAworld.com.
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