CMA Fest week got an unofficial kickoff on June 3 at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon during the second annual ’80s Dance Party to End Alz, which benefited the Alzheimer’s Association.
This year’s event, which was hosted by Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Blair Garner, featured performances from Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, Chris Young, Lindsay Ell, Charles Esten, Ashley Campbell, High Valley, Emily West and Radio Romance.
“I’m here tonight because of my mom, who had Alzheimer’s, and my entire family who went through the experience with her,” said Kimberly Williams-Paisley from the stage. “We lost my mom in 2016, and since then I’ve connected with so many people affected by this disease. Unfortunately, people with Alzheimer’s and those around them feel the stigma associated with this disease, and that keeps people from having important conversations and sharing their story to bring Alzheimer’s and other dementias out of the shadows. Together, all of us here in this room—each and every one of us—we are changing the world by imagining a world without Alzheimer’s disease and by supporting the Alzheimer’s Association.”
The evening also included a silent auction of exclusive experience packages, including tickets and passes to a taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live, an L.A. Dodgers experience with batting practice passes, tickets and signed items from Clayton Kershaw, a VIP Star Trek movie screening with a William Shatner meet and greet, Brad Paisley tickets and meet and greet passes, and tickets to an Eagles concert along with a guitar signed by all members of the group.
The fundraising effort is still being tallied, but more than $340,000 has already been raised. The event was led by a volunteer committee of Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Blair Garner, Eric Garner and John Shomby,
main photo by Frederick Breedon IV/Getty Images
