Tag: Nashville Rescue Mission

Tracy Lawrence’s Mission:Possible Turkey Fry provides 50,000 meals

Benefit concert raises $355,000

by Preshias Harris

Tracy Lawrence is no newcomer when it comes to organizing and supervising a mammoth turkey fry. After all, this was going to be the twentieth time that the country music icon and philanthropist had done it to provide much-needed meals to hungry Middle Tennesseans. With any major undertaking such as this, there will always be a few last minute glitches. But this time, the ‘glitch’ looked like it was turning into a potential disaster.

Tracy Lawrence fries another turkey during his 20th annual Mission:Possible Turkey Fry. Photo credit: Logan Vollmers

When things looked their darkest, Lawrence’s cool head and quick thinking saved the day. His friends in the music industry and the Nashville community rallied together November 25 in a time of need for Lawrence’s 20th Annual Mission:Possible Turkey Fry at the Nashville Fairgrounds. What started as a morning of prep led to panic after discovering a refrigerated truck had broken, spoiling 650 stored turkeys out of the 3,600 total allotment.

Lawrence called out to social media, news outlets, artists and celebrities asking for donations to replenish the stock in order to reach their goal of feeding 36,000 people throughout Middle Tennessee. The result was truly a miracle, ending in over 2,400 turkeys donated today, making the total of 5,350 cooked and frozen distributed turkeys. The added donations have now brought the total to 50,000+ meals provided for those in need. Watch a video recap of the Turkey Fry here.

Tucker Wetmore (left) arrives at the Nashville Fairgrounds with a truckload of turkeys for Tracy Lawrence and his team of turkey fryers. Photo credit: Dylan McGraw

Artists and celebrities came out to support the turkey fry, with appearances from notable names like Jamey Johnson, Tucker Wetmore, Charles Esten, Dustin Lynch, Meghan Patrick, John Crist, Rodney Atkins, Clint Black, Rhett Akins, Frank Ray and more. Wetmore surprised Lawrence with a drop off of over 100 turkeys, while Patrick also donated and took to social media to encourage her community to support and donate. 

(L to R): Haley Irvine and Meghan Patrick arrive with more turkeys!

Later, fans gathered at Luke Combs’ Category 10 for the benefit concert, with performances by Lawrence, Gretchen Wilson, Chris Cagle, Eric Paslay and Halfway to Hazard. The event saw a record-breaking amount of money raised for Mission:Possible, totaling $355,000.

(L to R): Chris Cagle, Gretchen Wilson, Tracy Lawrence, Glenn Cranfield (Nashville Rescue Mission), Eric Paslay and Halfway to Hazard onstage for the benefit concert at Luke Combs’ Category 10. Photo credit: Logan Vollmers

Find more about the mission of Mission:Possible here at their website. Monetary donations can still be made on behalf of Nashville Rescue Mission here. More about Tracy Lawrence, including tour and ticket info for upcoming shows at Tracy Lawrence.com; follow him on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Preshias Harris  is an advocate for songwriters and a 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 at   www.collegeofsongology.com  Follow her blog at  www.nashvillemusicline.com  @PreshiasHarris #PreshiasHarris 

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.”

Continue reading “Tracy Lawrence’s record-breaking Mission:Possible Turkey Fry & Concert”

Tracy Lawrence talks about new album

“Pure passion” is his driving force

‘Good Ole Days,’ the new album from Tracy Lawrence, dropped on November 10 and features duets with some of Country’s biggest current stars.  I had the opportunity to ask Tracy about the new project and what it means to him. (Note: Scroll down for info on Tracy’s Turkey Fry and ‘Mission Possible: Charity Concert’ at the Wildhorse Saloon, November 22.)

Preshias Harris: Your new album is called ‘Good Ole days.’ What makes this record super special for you, besides the all-star appearance of your Country Music Family?

Tracy Lawrence

Tracy Lawrence: I think for me it was bringing the classic hits together with a lot of the contemporary artists of modern Country.  I think it makes it very special and unique. Nobody has really done a project like this before. I think the collaborations are amazing. Everybody did a wonderful job. Most of the people showed up and didn’t even need a lyric sheet when they came in to sing these songs. A lot of them – Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Justin Moore, Chris Young and all the guys –  had played these things over and over again so they had their own little nuances to their phrasing that made it really special.

 PH: It’s been a little over 5 years since ‘Headlights Taillights and Radios’ were released in August 2013. Do you think your music style has change over the course of five years?

TL: I think it’s gone back more traditional. I really tried to push the envelope with that record and I think I find myself going back to a little bit more of a comfort zone. I think the next album is going to reflect that.

PH: If you could go back in time and change one decision in your career, what would that be?

TL: Marriage Number Two!

PH: You have one of the most successful careers in Country Music; to what do you attribute that?

TL: Pure passion.  I believe my passion for my craft allows me to continue and to be relevant to a changing market. I truly love what I do.

PH: What is one of your most favorites things about making this new album?

TL: Being able to hear the stories of the influence [I’ve had on] a lot of the younger singers; learning the impact that I had on their careers. I didn’t realize how much influence I had on this generation of stars that’s out there right now. It’s pretty overwhelming for me.

PH: Is there one song on there that has a special meaning behind it?

TL: “Paint Me A Birmingham.” It was my comeback. It was a big record. I think Easton Corbin did a phenomenal job. He sang it like he meant it.  He made it his own.  It was very special.

‘Good Ole Days’ is available via iTunes, Amazon and wherever music is sold. My review of ‘the album was posted earlier here on my blog.

Tracy’s Turkey Fry and concert set for Nov 22

Tracy is keeping busy – and for a good cause. His second annual Tracy Lawrence Mission: Possible Charity Concert will take place Tuesday, November 22 at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon, benefitting Nashville Rescue Mission. It will feature performances from Lawrence and his country-star pals Big & Rich, Jerrod Niemann, Ben Rue and returning guests Halfway to Hazard, all donating their time and talent to the cause. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.wildhorsesaloon.com. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Last year’s sold-out concert raised $63,000 for Nashville Rescue Mission.

Earlier this year the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals honored Lawrence as its Philanthropist of the Year specifically for his work on behalf of Nashville Rescue Mission, recognizing him for making a large and positive contribution to the community. Funds raised by the singer at his annual event have helped provide more than 75,000 meals to those in need, and more than 5,000 turkeys have been fried and donated to the Mission. In the last three years alone, Tracy Lawrence has raised $120,000 for Nashville Rescue Mission with his annual Mission: Possible Turkey Fry. Full details here.