Morgan Wallen, Hardy and Ernest Sing at T.J. Martell Gala

Country luminaries Morgan Wallen, Hardy and Ernest play a lengthy “writers’ round” performance in honor of Big Loud partner and CEO Seth England at the 49th annual T.J. Martell Foundation gala in New York Tuesday night, which raised some $2.6 million for cancer research — the biggest amount raised in more than 20 years. England was honored with the foundation’s Lifetime Music Industry Award. 

Highlights included Hardy opening the performance with his hit, “Truck Bed,” a collaboration between Wallen and Ernest on “Flower Shops,” and Wallen singing hit smash “Last Night.” He also performed his new, unreleased song “Love Somebody,” previewed on his recent European tour, and the three joined together for their chart-topping collaboration with Post Malone, “I Had Some Help” (although Post was not in the house).

The event was hosted by T.J. Martell Foundation Chairman-Elect of the Board of Trustees Steve Gawley and the Gala Co-Chair committee including Ben Adelson, Tyler Arnold, Scott Borchetta, Tom Corson, Archie Davis, John Esposito, Clint Higham, Lynn-Anne Huck, Monte Lipman, Avery Lipman, Rakiyah Marshall, Debbie Martell, Joey Moi, Brian O’Connell, Andre Stapleton, Julie Swidler, Greg Thompson, Candice Watkins and Craig Wiseman. 

“When I asked Seth England to be this year’s Honoree, he didn’t hesitate, he didn’t need to check his schedule, he just said yes, because that’s the kind of person Seth is.  He truly cares, understood the gravity of our cause and he jumped in with both feet. Seth’s only question was “How do we make the most impact?” Because Seth always thinks big,” commented Steve Gawley, T.J. Martell Foundation Chairman-Elect of the Board of Trustees, during his remarks celebrating England.  “The next day, Seth and his wife, Rakiyah Marshall, kicked off the campaign with a quarter million dollar personal donation.  The Big Loud Team and the Martell Team planned a kickoff breakfast at Nissan Stadium in Nashville last May which raised over $1.1 million and highlighted the true spirit and generosity of the Nashville music community.  Our fundraising work continued full speed into the summer and that’s when I received a call from Craig Wiseman, Seth’s other partner at Big Loud. What Craig made clear to me was simply the enormous pride he took in having mentored Seth for his entire career.  Craig asked me ‘How much do you need to go over the $2 million? I’m giving you $300k today, we’re breaking the record today and now go on and get even more for cancer research, my friend.’ and I was pretty stunned.”

In his acceptance speech, England said, “None of us would be here without the incredible work of the historic T.J. Martell Foundation. This year, I’ve had a massive learning curve about all that this organization means to folks– learning about the people it’s helped save and the money raised that continues to go to cancer research. The work that the T.J. Martell Foundation has done has touched countless lives, and being a part of that legacy is beyond humbling. I’m honored to be able to contribute to this mission in tonight’s small way.”

“I like to always remind the three of them,” he gestured to Wallen, Hardy and Ernest, “and anyone else who will listen that this business is what you do, it’s not who you are,” he continued. “Tonight, I couldn’t be more proud of those three in particular who showed up for me, showed up for this foundation and for cancer research because that’s who they are as people.”

The evening is the Foundation’s primary fundraiser of the year, supporting its mission of curing cancer by funding high-risk, high-reward research that could lead to trailblazing advancements in early detection, screening, and treatments. For more information and to make a contribution, go to tjmartell.org.