Honoring the memories of those who lost their lives in the tragic flooding.
Last night, Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum, and many other of their famous Texas friends and artists took the stage at the Moody Center in Austin for a star-studded benefit concert called Band Together Texas, which benefited The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, the leading charity behind the ongoing flood relief efforts, and Central Texas Community Foundation.
Of course, South-central Texas was ravaged by flash flooding over the 4th of July weekend earlier this summer, and over 130 people lost their lives in the Texas Hill Country region. The Guadalupe River rose dramatically due to torrential rainfall, leading to widespread flooding, and a significant number of the fatalities occurred in Kerr County. The devastation has been unimaginable, and while nothing will be able to replace the loved ones who lost their lives, it does bring hope to know that people are so willing to step up during a time of great need.
There were plenty of notable moments, including Cody Johnson’s gorgeous acoustic cover of “How Great Thou Art,” but Wade Bowen delivered a moving tribute to the victims who didn’t survive the tragic flooding during his performance of “A Beautiful World,” which originally featured Lori McKenna and was released in 2022 as part of his Somewhere Between the Secret and the Truth album.
The lyrics touch on the beauty of the world, even amidst the tragedy and hard days, and how even during the darkest times, we still have hope. He introduced the song by saying he wanted it to be a reminder for everyone in attendance, and watching on the livestream, that no matter how “devastating” life can be, we still live in a “beautiful, beautiful world”:
“Amazing. Tonight is about, for anybody out there watching, I want this song to be a reminder that, no matter how dark it gets, devastating it gets, we live in a beautiful, beautiful world.”
But I can’t imagine there was a dry eye in the room as the names of all the victims, and those still missing, flashed up on the screen behind him. He took the time to acknowledged everyone who passed, and I have to imagine it meant the world to the families of those people who will never see their loved one again.
Even more than that, though, he showed several photos and home videos of some of the precious young girls who died at Camp Mystic, an a Christian all-girls summer camp in Hunt, Texas that experienced extreme flooding that resulted in the deaths of dozens of campers and counselors, as well as director Richard “Dick” Eastland, who died trying to save campers and help everyone get out in the early morning hours of July 4th.
The word heartbreaking doesn’t even begin to describe it, and as you see photos and even a few home videos of the girls when they were even younger, you can’t help but get tears in your eyes… it’s unbelievably sad beyond words.
Bowen showed the names of everyone who lost their lives, including those who are still missing, and there might have been photos of some of the other victims too, but it was hard to tell as the camera angle changed on the livestream.
He ended the song with a simple message on the screen:
“We carry you in our hearts.”
Everyone had their phone lights out, and it made for a very emotional, yet very special, moment that is surely a highlight of the event and something they’ll all never forget. Everyone who passed away so tragically deserves to be honored in this way, and Bowen did an incredible job.
You can watch his performance here:
“A Beautiful World”
Matthew McConaughey and Dennis Quaid, former UT Longhorns coach Mack Brown and players Emmanuel Acho, Colt McCoy and Vince Young, MLB star and Houston native Roger Clemens plus television host and Dallas native Chris Harrison, also took the stage at different points throughout the evening in an effort to help raise as much money as possible for those whose lives have been changed forever by the tragic flooding.
We’re still waiting on an official number to be announced in terms of how much they raised, but I have to imagine it’s going to be a huge number and everyone who was part of it last night should be very proud of themselves and what they’ve done for their neighbors in the Lone Star State.
The full livestream is available to watch below.
