CHICAGO, Aug. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- Country music stars, including Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes, Sara
Evans and Brad Paisley, will
bring their star power to the 49th annual MDA Show of Strength
Telethon this Labor Day weekend
airing this Sunday, Aug. 31, 9/8c on
ABC television stations across the country.
Viewers tuning into the 2014 telethon, one of America's
longest-standing and beloved fundraising and entertainment events,
will enjoy musical performances and heartfelt appeals from the
country stars, who appear on the show to help raise funds and
awareness in support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association's
mission to save and improve the lives of children and adults
affected by muscle disease.
"As much fun as it was performing for this year's MDA telethon,
getting to meet with Bryson Foster
who's affected by muscular dystrophy was the real highlight of the
whole experience for me and the guys," said Rascal Flatts lead
vocalist Gary LeVox. "We're inspired by him and all that MDA does
to help the families it serves, and we're honored to be part of the
progress that's being made to end these life-threatening
diseases."
During the two-hour national broadcast, country music trio
Rascal Flatts will perform their popular hit "My Wish," and award-winning musician
Sara Evans will sing her hit single
"A Little Bit Stronger." Both performances were taped from the
iconic Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
MDA Ambassador Bryson Foster, 14,
of Concord, N.C., makes his third
appearance on the national broadcast of the telethon when he
introduces Rascal Flatts and Evans onstage for their respective
performances. Bryson, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD),
also got exclusive interviews with the artists backstage on MDA's
blue carpet.
Performing her hit single "Give" during the nationally broadcast
show, Grammy award-winning singer LeAnn
Rimes took time out from promoting and filming her new VH1
reality show, "LeAnn & Eddie," and her new remix album
"Dance Like You Don't Give a … Greatest Hits Remixes" (which
was released earlier this August) to show her support for MDA at
the Hollywood
Palladium.
Rimes met backstage with MDA families onsite, which included an
exclusive interview with "blue" carpet correspondent and
15-year-old MDA Ambassador Abbey
Umali of Redlands, Calif.
Umali is affected by Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) which causes
muscle weakness, lack of coordination and loss of sensation in the
upper and lower extremities. Click here to see their exclusive
interview and learn why LeAnn supports MDA.
Country superstar Brad Paisley
also will make a special appeal on behalf of families served by MDA
while giving an exclusive behind-the-scenes peek at a taping of
ABC's "Rising Star," a competition show that features
Paisley in a mentoring role along with Kesha, Ludacris and
Josh Groban.
"Our telethon will offer great entertainment from some of
America's favorite country artists who are 'showing their strength'
to inspire millions of viewers to rally behind families who
courageously wage a battle against life-threatening muscle disease
every day," MDA President and CEO Steven M.
Derks said. "The Show of Strength Telethon provides an
incredible opportunity to celebrate everyone who has helped drive
decades of progress by MDA in the search for treatments and
cures."
Additionally, the 2014 MDA telethon will feature a star-studded
celebrity lineup, including: American Authors, Aloe Blacc, Jason
Derulo, Fall Out Boy, Bret Michaels,
Matt Nathanson and R5.
Introductions or appeals for the show include: Laila
Ali, Tom Bergeron, ABC's Dr. Richard
Besser, Charles Esten,
Terry Fator, Kevin Frazier, Josh
Groban, Ludacris, Susan
Lucci, Kesha, Alyssa Milano,
Nancy O'Dell, Victor Ortiz, Chris
Powell, Jordin Sparks and
Fall Out Boy bassist Pete
Wentz.
About MDA Show of Strength Telethon
MDA's first
Labor Day weekend telethon was
broadcast in 1966 on a single New York station and has become the
most successful fundraising event in the history of television. The
show, with its iconic host Jerry
Lewis and with help from a legion of top celebrities and
entertainers, has raised millions each year to provide
life-enhancing support and services for the families MDA serves.
The real stars on the broadcast have always been the MDA families
who have graciously agreed to open their homes and hearts to
America and tell their stories of strength. This year marks the
49th annual MDA telethon.
In addition to funds contributed by the public, substantial
support also comes from MDA's family of national sponsors, whose
work throughout the year on behalf of MDA will be recognized on the
telethon. Among the sponsors: International Association of Fire
Fighters, CITGO Petroleum Corp., Lowe's, Harley-Davidson Motor Co.,
Jiffy Lube International, National Association of Letter Carriers,
The Safeway Foundation, 7-Eleven, Dr Pepper Snapple Group/7UP,
Acosta and Burger King.
At the community level, MDA is planning telethon viewing parties
with hundreds of local groups to rally support for the more than 1
million Americans it helps with lifesaving medical and support
services.
Funds raised by MDA telethons also have contributed to the
organization's worldwide research program. Today, through current
clinical trials, there is growing excitement that new lifesaving
treatments and discoveries are on the horizon for many of the
disorders MDA is dedicated to defeating, including Duchenne
muscular dystrophy (DMD), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Visit mda.org/showofstrength to learn more about the 2014 MDA
telethon.
About MDA
The Muscular Dystrophy
Association is the world's leading nonprofit health agency
dedicated to saving and improving the lives of people with muscle
disease, including muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS) and other neuromuscular diseases. It does so by
funding worldwide research to find treatments and cures; by
providing comprehensive health care services and support to MDA
families nationwide; and by rallying communities to fight back
through advocacy, fundraising and local engagement.
Visit mda.org and follow us at
facebook.com/MDAnational and @MDAnews. Learn more about
MDA's mission by watching this video.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140827/140553
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140820/138230
SOURCE Muscular Dystrophy Association