Pickler
and Rhett Joined Rhett Akins, Lauren Alaina, Danielle Bradbery, Chase
Bryant, Kristian Bush, Dan + Shay, Love & Theft, Scotty McCreery,
Cassadee Pope, and Jamie Lynn Spears to Play ‘Human Checkers’ to Benefit
the USO (United Service Organizations, Inc.) and DAV (Disabled American
Veterans) During ACM® Party for a Cause® Festival
Arlington, Texas (April
18, 2015) – Two of country music’s stars – Kellie Pickler and Thomas
Rhett – teamed up with 12 of their colleagues who became real-life
checker pieces today at the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Country Checkers Challenge™ during the 2015 Academy of Country Music® (ACM) Party for a Cause® Festival at Globe Life Park in Arlington, TX.
“We’ve always been supporters of country music and seen it as a natural
extension of who we are as a brand…time spent on the front porch with
family and friends,” said Chris Ciavarra, Cracker Barrel’s senior vice
president of marketing. “For years, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store has
celebrated the spirit of music through our partnerships with the Grand
Ole Opry and through our exclusive music program.”
Through a Cracker Barrel $35,000 donation to benefit ACM Lifting Lives®, $25,000 was donated to USO, the winning team, and $10,000 to DAV. The event was held leading up to the 50th Annual ACM Awards, airing LIVE this Sunday, April 19, at 8 p.m. ET on the CBS Television Network.
“This event was not about us, it was about our servicemen and
servicewomen and our veterans. It’s not just their sacrifices, but the
sacrifices their families make, too, every day,” said winning team
captain Kellie Pickler. “A fun event like this reminds us that there
are so many things to be thankful for. I’m grateful for companies like
Cracker Barrel, the ACM, and Lifting Lives for shining a light on the
USO and DAV.”
“The Country Checkers Challenge partnership provided us with a great
opportunity to recognize two military organizations – the USO and DAV to
help them continue the great work they do in support of active and
retired military servicemen and women,” Ciavarra said.
Playing on a giant outdoor checkerboard, Pickler and Rhett captained
teams of country music artists who were the “checker pieces” in a live
game viewed by thousands of fans. The artists participating in the
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Country Checkers Challenge included:
Team Rhett – Rhett Akins, Dan + Shay (Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney),
Danielle Bradbery, Scotty McCreery, and Cassadee Pope; and Team Pickler:
Lauren Alaina, Chase Bryant, Kristian Bush, Love & Theft (Stephen
Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson) and Jamie Lynn Spears.
18, 2015) – Two of country music’s stars – Kellie Pickler and Thomas
Rhett – teamed up with 12 of their colleagues who became real-life
checker pieces today at the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Country Checkers Challenge™ during the 2015 Academy of Country Music® (ACM) Party for a Cause® Festival at Globe Life Park in Arlington, TX.
extension of who we are as a brand…time spent on the front porch with
family and friends,” said Chris Ciavarra, Cracker Barrel’s senior vice
president of marketing. “For years, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store has
celebrated the spirit of music through our partnerships with the Grand
Ole Opry and through our exclusive music program.”
servicewomen and our veterans. It’s not just their sacrifices, but the
sacrifices their families make, too, every day,” said winning team
captain Kellie Pickler. “A fun event like this reminds us that there
are so many things to be thankful for. I’m grateful for companies like
Cracker Barrel, the ACM, and Lifting Lives for shining a light on the
USO and DAV.”
opportunity to recognize two military organizations – the USO and DAV to
help them continue the great work they do in support of active and
retired military servicemen and women,” Ciavarra said.
teams of country music artists who were the “checker pieces” in a live
game viewed by thousands of fans. The artists participating in the
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Country Checkers Challenge included:
Team Rhett – Rhett Akins, Dan + Shay (Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney),
Danielle Bradbery, Scotty McCreery, and Cassadee Pope; and Team Pickler:
Lauren Alaina, Chase Bryant, Kristian Bush, Love & Theft (Stephen
Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson) and Jamie Lynn Spears.