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HARDY is always ready to rock out for a good cause.
Chatting with PEOPLE backstage at the American Cancer Society’s Country vs. Cancer benefit concert at The Pinnacle in Nashville on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at which the singer was the headlining artist, he says that the immense profundity of the situation — and the weight he carries — is not lost on him.
“I’m just lucky first and foremost to have a platform to stand on, to be able to support just through music,” HARDY, 35, leads off by noting. With that, the singer giddily gloats about the current positioning of his personal life and career, which has allowed him to call upon industry magnates such as Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley to open up for him on this special occasion.
Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for American Cancer Society
“Dierks and Miranda are both legends,” he proclaims of the Country vs. Cancer lineup, which also included Lanie Gardner, McCoy Moore, Chase McGill, Luke Laird, Randy Montana and Rocky Block, jokingly adding, “I feel weird closing the night out. You know what I mean? I’m like, Jesus, these two are hall of famers.”
HARDY maintains that the lineup decision wasn’t necessarily a ticket-selling tactic, but more so a reflection of the innate kindness he sees in his peers. “I truly legit asked both of them and nobody else because I knew that they would say yes because I know that they’re such good people,” he shares. “They both care about the cause, whatever the cause may be. I just knew that they would show up for me and for this event.”
Unfortunately, like many others, the topic of cancer is one that hits home for HARDY. “My grandmother on my dad’s side had breast cancer,” he explains. “She caught it very early, and she beat it very quickly. But on my mother’s side, my grandmother … it slowly ended her life. It was really hard to watch.”
Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for American Cancer Society
“She got it, she went into remission, she got it again and then it spread everywhere. It was a really sad thing,” he adds of the life-altering situation. Those difficult moments of reflection helped mold the star’s perspective towards aiding the American Cancer Society, an organization that has been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families for 110 years, through efforts combating cancer via advocacy, research and patient support.
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“I also know how scary it is because it’s one of the few things that we have today that is not only completely incurable, but also very deadly,” HARDY adds. “Anything I can do to help put money into trying to figure out how to put it into it is just … I’m happy to do that.”
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The event came about purely through HARDY’s philanthropic tendencies (he also co-chairs The HARDY Fund with wife Caleigh Hardy), co-partnered with Whiskey Jam, and succeeded in its goals of both bringing awareness and having a serious financial impact. With over $350,000 raised directly as a result of the 2025 Country vs. Cancer event, HARDY remains humble and grateful for his ability to contribute at such a high level.
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“I just stand on the shoulders of Nashville and the music industry for putting me in a place where I could do that,” he shares.
Those looking for more information on the American Cancer Society’s efforts can visit cancer.org/countrygives, or call the organization’s 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345.
