The 29th annual Concert for Cumberland Heights comes to Ryman Auditorium on October 29, at 7:30 p.m. The benefit began in 1996 to benefit the John Hiatt Fund for Adolescent and Young Adult Treatment. Donations to the concert generate the source of scholarship funding for our ARCH Academy and Young Adult programs.
The Concert for Cumberland Heights is the longest-running benefit concert at the Ryman Auditorium. Approximately 2,400 people attend the concert every year, which has raised over $3.8 million over the course of its existence.
The road to recovery from addiction begins with abstinence. However, continued sobriety goes far beyond addressing the physical symptoms. Because addiction affects the mind, body, and spirit, successful recovery must equally address them all. Treatment centers like Cumberland Heights provide folks with the tools required to meet these challenges in daily life.
Since first opening its doors 59 years ago, Cumberland Heights has been a beacon of recovery for individuals both in the community and beyond. As one of the most trusted nonprofit treatment organizations of its kind, Cumberland Heights’ mission is to transform lives by giving hope and healing to those affected by alcohol or drug addiction. Its staff walks alongside patients every step of their journey. This provides each person with the tools and compassionate support required to build a strong foundation for sustained recovery.
Tickets to the Concert for Cumberland Heights are available at the Ryman Auditorium box office.
Concert for Cumberland Heights Performers
This year’s concert is a songwriting tour de force. With chart-topping hits spanning decades, these performers represent Nashville’s musical essence. It all begins with a song.
The Warren Brothers
Songwriting duo The Warren Brothers have written hits for Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Taylor Swift, Toby Keith, Keith Urban, Martina McBride, Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, and Chris Young, among many others. They received nominations for a Grammy for best country song GRAMMY® (“if you’re reading this” by Tim McGraw), and CMA song of the year (“Anyway” by Martina McBride).
Don Schlitz
Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017, Don Schlitz has written enduring classics such as “The Gambler,” “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “When You Say Nothing At All,” and “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her.” As Kenny Rogers once said, “Don doesn’t just write songs, he writes careers.”
Jeffrey Steele
Six-time Grammy Nominee, Jeffrey Steele, has been recognized by BMI for over 65 million airplays. Artists including Keith Urban, Eric Church, Zac Brown Band, Jimmy Buffett, Montgomery Gentry, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cher, .38 Special, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, have hits penned by Steele.
Brian White
With over 400 cuts to his credit, Brian White’s work has earned him seventeen #1 songs. Additionally, he has 2 Dove Awards, SESAC Song of the Year, as well as ACM, CMA, and GRAMMY® nominations. Rascal Flatts, Trace Adkins, and Jason Aldean (Including Jason’s #1 “Blame It On You”) all have songs penned by White.
Joseph Habedank
Christian artist Joseph Habedank has been weaving his life into melodies since his acclaimed 2014 solo debut, Welcome Home. He has two GRAMMY® nominations and four Gospel Music Association Dove Awards to his credit. His song “the basement” — an ode to life after addiction. closes his latest album, autobiography. “I felt like it was important to put that song at the end of the track listing,” Habedank says of the song. “One, the basement’s at the bottom of a home; and two, it describes the last part of my story, which is recovery, and that’s where I live now.”
Natalie Hemby
Reknowned for her powerful storytelling and chart-topping collaborations, Natalie Hemby is a GRAMMY® Award-winning singer/songwriter. She has penned songs for some of the biggest names in music. Among her hits are Lady Gaga’s “I’ll Never Love Again,” Miranda Lambert’s “White Liar” and “Automatic,” Kacey Musgraves’ “Rainbow,” and Little Big Town’s “Pontoon.” Her work has earned widespread acclaim, including two Grammy Awards and recognition from the ACM, CMA, CMT, and NSAI Awards.
Walter Egan
Multifaceted artist, Walter Egan, is most widely known for his 1978 million-selling single record “Magnet and Steel.” From his album Not Shy (co-produced by Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsay Buckingham), the track features Stevie Nicks prominently on vocals. Egan continues to write, produce, and record new music and perform live around Nashville, as well as nationally and internationally.
Ira Dean
As a multifaceted musician and acclaimed songwriter, Dean’s musical talent became widely recognized when he joined the dynamic country music trio Trick Pony in the late 1990s. As bassist and contributing vocalist, he played a pivotal role in shaping Trick Pony’s signature sound. During his tenure with Trick Pony, Dean co-wrote some of their most successful songs, including “Pour Me,” “On a Mission,” and “Just What I Do.” The trio’s achievements include winning the American Music Award for “Top New Artist” and the Country Music Association’s “Vocal Group of the Year.”