Pictured (left to right): Country With Heart Organizer/Emcee- Jennifer Herron, St. Jude Representative – Addie Pratt,
Country With Heart Founder/Host – Bobby Marquez
The 11th annual Country With Heart for St. Jude presented by Workout Anytime 24/7 with supporting sponsor, Gus Arrendale and Springer Mountain Farms hosted country fans from around the world earlier this month, all raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This year’s donations through ticket sales, sponsorships and auction items totaled an impressive $33,500 added to the 150-thousand dollars presented to St. Jude over the 11-year run of the show.
Founder/Organizer and Host, Bobby Marquez shared, “The friendships and love in that theatre were overwhelming. I cannot thank everyone enough for pulling together for such a great cause. Our volunteers are unsung heroes. Special thanks to Joe Hobbs and our dear friend David McCormick who owned and managed the Ernest Tubb Record Shop for decades. Those two and so many more went above and beyond.”
There was plenty of heart in the room at the Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theatre as fans gathered for a yearly reunion. The event sold-out twice with the venue opening extra seating for the largest crowd to date. Gifts were presented to fans who have supported the event each year. The fans also lined up for autographs from Donna Fargo and John Schneider. John Conlee donated his rose-colored glasses, which went as the highest bid in the silent auction. Karen Staley shared her biggest hits. Opry members Charlie McCoy, Mark Wills and Mandy Barnett lit up the room. Jason Coleman was a favorite on stage, along with Barbara Fairchild. Rex Allen Jr. served up a great western music performance. And the crowd couldn’t get enough of the harmonies of Rockland Road and Runaway June. Surprise guest Ava Barber had the crowd singing along. And talent winner, Dyllan Culp won over a room of fans.
Bobby Marquez opened the show with his original song written for the fundraiser, titled “Country With Heart. It is a label the crowd embraced and chanted along….”we’re all country with heart.”
The show was closed out with Addie Pratt, a St. Jude kid who is giving back, now working within the doors of St. Jude. Her personal song about her journey brought the crowd to their feet.
“There were tears and laughter and fans giving all they could in the spirit of Petey Northup, a St. Jude kid who inspired Country With Heart. It is surreal to know that every dime donated is literally saving lives as St. Jude continues to find cures and the best treatments, saving children, like little Lily who was there to shout she is cancer free with her twin Emmy. God bless everyone who showed up and helped make this possible,” concludes Marquez.
For photos and memories from the 2025 Country With Heart benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and more upcoming events, keep up with Bobby Marquez daily at www.facebook.com/bobbymarquezmusic
To request interviews or more information, please contact: jenniherron@hotmail.com.
About Country With Heart: Country With Heart is an all-star country music show held during CMA Music Fest week in Nashville benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The event was founded by award winning singer/songwriter Bobby Marquez in 2015 in honor of his number one fan, a former St. Jude kid, Petey Northup. To date, the annual event has raised thousands of dollars for treatments and research. Participating talent has included, Lee Roy Parnell, Exile, Rex Allen Jr., Charlie McCoy, Clint Black, Mark Wills, John Conlee, Wade Hayes, Barbara Fairchild, Crystal Gayle, Chuck Mead, Gary Chapman, David Ball, Riders in The Sky, Sylvia, Andy Griggs, Johnny Rodriguez, John Berry, Linda Davis, Larry Gatlin, Billy Yates, Becky Hobbs and more.
About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live. St. Jude has treated children from all 50 states and from around the world. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since it opened more than 50 years ago.
About (presenting sponsor) Workout Anytime 24/7: The name, Workout Anytime 24/7, speaks volumes, offering affordable fitness with high-quality equipment whenever you want it. Fitness that fits your life means there’s no excuse, just results. That caring approach backed by integrity has helped families across the country achieve health goals with confidence and enthusiasm through the expertise and dedication of their team. Workout Anytime 24/7 has sponsored all 10 years of Country With Heart.
About (Supporting Sponsor) Gus Arrendale/Springer Mountain Farms: Gus Arrendale embodies the epitome of dedication and passion in his illustrious career as the President of Springer Mountain Farms. With an unwavering commitment to producing the finest, healthiest poultry, he has established an unparalleled legacy in the industry.
His remarkable achievements extend far beyond the realm of agriculture, as he stands as a beacon of humanitarianism, earning the esteemed National Humanitarian Award from the American Humane Association. Their emphasis on using 100% U.S. grown corn and soybeans in chicken feed not only reflects their dedication to superior quality but also underscores their support for domestic agriculture.
Gus’s love for music resonates deeply, evidenced by his unwavering support for talented artists and musicians. His contributions to the country music community have garnered numerous accolades, including the prestigious ROPE International Business Award and induction into the Academy of Local Musicians in Nashville. www.springermtn.com
About Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theatre: Voted Nashville’s #1 Dinner & Show! Located in Music Valley Village across the street from The Gaylord Opryland Hotel, the Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theatre presents a dining experience and variety show voted the best combination in Nashville. The entertainers have a rich history in country music and perform hits over the decades while hosting some of country music’s biggest celebrities. The 300 seat theater with a state of the art sound and light system and family atmosphere has been home to the Country With Heart benefit for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for three years.
About (founder/host) Bobby Marquez: Bobby Marquez is an awarded singer/songwriter, originally from South Texas. Marquez has become known for his charismatic smile and fun-loving honky tonk style of music paired with inspiring lyrics. His timely song, “Speak Love,” shows his kind heart and has earned him the CMA of Texas Americana Award for 2021. In 2019, Bobby was considered for a Grammy Award for his duet with Rhonda Vincent on a song Marquez co-wrote titled, “For Awhile.” The song also won CMA of Texas Duet of the Year and the Academy of Western Artists Song of the Year. Bobby was also awarded the 2018 AWA Pure Country Male Vocalist and the recipient of the first-ever CMA of Texas Cowboy/Western Artist Award. . His original tune, “The Cowboy Way,” produced by the legendary Rex Allen Jr., was designated the theme song of the annual Gene Autry Museum Festival in Oklahoma. Bobby Marquez appears on television’s Larry’s Country Diner, The Penny Gilley Show, The Merlin Gene Show and Country Fix. While his music videos are seen around the world on various networks, his music can be heard on radio stations around the globe, including on Willie’s Roadhouse on Sirius/XM Radio. Marquez’s songs have been recorded by George Strait, Alan Jackson, Rhonda Vincent, Ty Herndon and Johnny Rodriguez.
Links:
https://www.countryschatter.com/2025/06/country-music-fans-pull-together-for-donation-to-st-jude-during-11th-annual-country-with-heart-event/Charity EventDonationNew ReleasesNewsBobby Marquez,Country With Heart for St. Jude,Jennifer Herron,Springer Mountain Farms,St. Judge,Workout Anytime 24/7
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