Miranda Lambert & Parker McCollum Host “Band Together Texas” For Texas Flood Victims
Country stars Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum hosted a benefit concert called “Band Together Texas” on August 17.
The event, which supported those devastated by the floods in central Texas last month, was an incredible success, raising $8.5 million.
The concert featured a number of big names, including Cody Johnson, Dylan Gossett, Jack Ingram, and the legendary Ronnie Dunn.
Additionally, notable Texans from other facets of the entertainment industry supported the event including actors Matthew McConaughey and Dennis Quaid, former UT Longhorns coach Mack Brown, players Emmanuel Acho, Colt McCoy, and Vince Young, MLB star Roger Clemens, and television host Chris Harrison.
“Thank you Austin, Texas for showing up tonight. Thank you, everybody, for tuning in and showing up for us. We are banding together as Texans tonight,” Lambert told the audience. “It’s going to be a magical night of music, and for an amazing cause. My buddy Parker and I, we called each other right away and we asked, ‘What can we do? We can sing, so let’s go sing.’ And that’s what we’re doing tonight!”
The sold-out event was an unforgettable night, “honoring the lives lost in the Central Texas floods, and celebrating the every day heroes and first responders who saved countless others.”
Actor Matthew McConaughey opened with a monologue discussing the magnitude of the event, saying the night was about “restoration.”
“The devastating floods that took so many lives, businesses and homes last month broke a lot of hearts. As that day gets further away into the distance of our rearview mirror, it’s only natural that our concern and attention recede just like those flood waters—but we must remember, for the families who suffered, they are just beginning the lengthy journey to rebuild their lives,” he shared. “Tonight is about restoration… we are here to revive–Because even in the hardest times, we have to believe in the power of joy. So while we honor the heavy truths that brought us here, we will also celebrate the light that must continue to shine.”
McCollum thanked Lambert for her hard work in making the night possible.
“I’d like to give a shout out to Miranda Lambert, she’s the whole reason all of this is going on,” McCollum shared as he took the stage. “She texted me right away and asked, ‘What can we do?’ I said, ‘I’ll do anything I could ever possibly do to help these people.’ So, good on all of y’all for being here on a Sunday night. I’ve never been more proud to be born and raised in the great state of Texas than I am tonight.”
“Band Together Texas” Moves To Distribution Phase
On Wednesday (November 12), “Band Together Texas” announced they were “moving into the next phase of its relief efforts, distributing the funds raised to support impacted communities.”
“These funds are more than numbers – they’re lifelines for families still recovering from this year’s floods,” Lambert shared. “We worked closely with state officials and local partners to identify where the need is greatest and ensure that every dollar supports meaningful recovery.”
The Central Texas Community Foundation is set to receive $8 million, including $1 million earmarked for the Concho County Community Foundation. Meanwhile, the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country will receive over $650,000 to support Habitat for Humanity’s “Home for the Holidays” program.
“It has been amazing to see Texans, and even folks outside of Texas, come together in such a huge way,” added McCollum. “The money raised will go a long way in helping our home recover.”
Funds will be distributed with priority given to counties hardest hit by flooding, among them Travis, Williamson, Burnet, Kerr, Concho, and Tom Green, to support housing recovery, infrastructure improvements, and community revitalization efforts.