Tracy Lawrence’s record-breaking Mission:Possible Turkey Fry & Concert

Helping people most in need

By Preshias Harris

A chilly morning didn’t stop Tracy Lawrence and around 250 volunteers from cooking up 1,200 turkeys at the seventeenth annual Tracy Lawrence’s Mission:Possible Turkey Fry two days before Thanksgiving.

Tracy presents $250,000 check to Nashville Rescue Mission. (L-R): Shawn Parr, Rev. Glenn Cranfield, Tracy Lawrence. Photo: Caylee Robillard
Volunteers at work with one of the many turkey fryers. Photo: Tracie Moore

Those 1,200 turkeys – the most ever in the annual event’s history – provided 9,600 meals to those in need during the Thanksgiving holiday.  This year, the Turkey Fry moved to the Nashville Fairgrounds from its original location at the Nashville Rescue Mission’s parking lot, allowing the team to set up even more fryers.

Tracy told me, “I’m just happy we haven’t set anything on fire today,” when I caught up with him as the first turkeys were coming out of the fryers. He admitted it was a big undertaking, but added, “We’re going to reach hundreds more people in need around the Greater Nashville area this year than we’ve ever been able to do in the past.”

Tracy Lawrence talks about Mission:Possible with the media. Photo: Tracie Moore

Later that same day, it was time for the Mission:Possible Concert, again held at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon. Tracy was joined by Gary Allan, Travis Denning, Alexandra Kay and Halfway to Hazard for a sold-out benefit that raised another record-breaking $250,000 towards Mission:Possible’s long-time partner, the Nashville Rescue Mission. The yearly event has now provided more than 73,000 meals to the homeless across Middle Tennessee and raised over $850,000 for Nashville Rescue Mission.

On stage at The Wildhorse Saloon (L-R): Travis Denning, Alexandra Kay, Gary Allan, Tracy Lawrence, David Tolliver, Chad Warrix, Shawn Parr. Photo: Caylee Robillard

Taking a break from the sizzling fryers, Tracy talked to me about his current three-album project, Hindsight 2020, Vol 1, 2 and 3, and his unique new podcast TL’s Road House.

Read the full story including my interview with Tracy at Center Stage Mag here where you can also find more of my stories under the Preshias On The Row header along with fascinating interviews by Missy Wolf.

Preshias Harris  is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available here.  Follow her blog and read her regular ‘Preshias On The Row’ news stories at Center Stage Magazine.