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NASHVILLE, TN (April 15, 2025 ) -- An exciting break on Tax Day for aspiring singer/songwriters as Country With Heart announces a first-ever talent contest as part of their upcoming 11th annual benefit for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital presented by Workout Anytime 24/7 with supporting sponsor, Gus Arrendale and Springer Mountain Farms.
Starting today, April 15th, through April 30th, video performance entries will be accepted featuring artists performing an original, self-penned or co-written song. A panel of celebrity judges will choose one winner to perform that special song on the upcoming Country With Heart benefit for St. Jude on Saturday, June 7th at the Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theatre, sharing a stage with Hall of Fame, Grand Ole Opry and award-winning stars. Plus, the winner will also receive a recording session, valued at $3,000, to record that winning song with the acclaimed Buddy Hyatt Music at a major Nashville recording studio with Nashville's A-Team Musicians. The Country With Heart Talent Contest winner will be announced May 7, 2025.
The celebrity panel of judges includes veteran announcer for The Grand Ole Opry, Larry's Country Diner and The Huckabee Show, Keith Bilbrey. Joining Keith will be spokesmodel, performer and host of the popular RFD-TV show, The Penny Gilley Show, Penny Gilley. And rounding out the panel, comedian, CMA Award winner,Hall of Fame radio announcer and performer, Bill Whyte.
For rules and an entry form, email jenniherron@hotmail.com.
Organizer Bobby Marquez shares, "It can be tough to be heard or seen by music fans. So many of the people involved with Country With Heart extended that helping hand to me early in my career, so now we are paying it forward. And all of the money raised goes to research for cures and treatments for total healing at St. Jude. That's what these dreams are all about."
Host and founder, hit singer/songwriter Bobby Marquez will lead an amazing night of entertainment, while fans can enjoy a home cooked buffet, grab autographs and photos and bid on some one-of-a-kind treasures in the silent auction at the Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theatre on Saturday, June 7, 2025 from 5:30pm to 9:30pm.
Tickets are on sale now at www.eventbrite.com/countrywithheart.
2025 Country With Heart for St. Jude Lineup:
*ACM Nominated, Multi-Instrumental,Trend-Setting Organic Trio Runaway June
*Grand Ole Opry Star, Mesmerizing Vocalist, Variety on Main Host Mandy Barnett
*Western Music Hall Fame singer/songwriter/producer/narrator Rex Allen Jr.
*Grand Ole Opry Star, ACM Award Winning Mr. Rose Colored Glasses John Conlee
*Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry Star, Charlie McCoy
*Singer & Songwriter of Hits for Tracy Byrd, Faith Hill and Michael Martin Murphy Karen Staley
*Entertainer, TV and Radio host, grandson of Floyd Cramer, Jason Coleman
*Acclaimed Family Harmonies Blending Country, Gospel, Pop, R&B and Americana Rockland Road
*Special Meet/Greet (CD/Book Signing) Appearance by: Grammy Award Winning Singer/Songwriter and Author, NACMAI and North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Legend, The Happiest Girl In The Whole USA Donna Fargo
For updates on the 2025 Country With Heart benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, keep up with Bobby Marquez daily at www.facebook.com/bobbymarquezmusic
To request interviews or more information, please contact: jenniherron@hotmail.com.
More About Country With Heart Talent Contest for St. Jude Judges:
Keith Bilbrey:
Keith Bilbrey is an American country music disc jockey and television host in Nashville, Tennessee. He served as a disc jockey at Nashville's WSM, as an announcer on the Grand Ole Opry, and as the host of TNN’s Grand Ole Opry Live. He was also the show announcer for Huckabee, a variety show hosted by Mike Huckabee, on the Trinity Broadcasting Network.
Keith Bilbrey was born in Cookeville, Tennessee. His interest in radio began in fourth grade and he got his FCC broadcast license at the age of 14. In 1968, Bilbrey went to work at Cookeville's WHUB, soon after his 16th birthday. He remained at WHUB for six years. Keith attended Tennessee Technological University from 1970–1973 where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
In 1974, Bilbrey moved to Nashville to begin working for WSM, first as a substitute announcer for WSM-FM and then as a full-time disc jockey on WSM's FM and AM stations. Throughout his career, Bilbrey worked every single time slot at WSM and became an iconic voice in the modern history of the station and a fan favorite.
In 1982, Bilbrey began announcing on the Grand Ole Opry, joining a long tradition of legendary Opry announcers, including George D. Hay, Grant Turner, Ralph Emery, and Hairl Hensley. When The Nashville Network (TNN) began televising a thirty-minute portion of the show in 1985, the young announcer became the first host of Grand Ole Opry Live. Bilbrey hosted Opry Live, along with the Opry warm-up show Backstage Live, until TNN stopped airing the show in 2000.
Bilbrey's affiliation with the Opry earned him additional opportunities in the world of country music television and radio. Starting in 1982, Bilbrey was the announcer for Ernest Tubb's Midnight Jamboree, a post that Bilbrey held until Tubb's death in 1984. Bilbrey was the announcer for CBS’s telecast of the Country Music Association Awards for three years, as well as the CMA’s 35th Anniversary Special. Bilbrey continues to announce the non-televised portion of the CMA Award Show. He also served as emcee for a variety of television specials, including TNN's Music City News Awards: An Evening of Country Greats, Honky-Tonkin’ at the Wildhorse and the American Federation of Musicians100th Anniversary Show. Bilbrey also played the role of historian for the A&E biographies of Buck Owens and Ronnie Milsap. In 2006, Bilbrey received the prestigious AIR Awards Lifetime Achievement Award.
In addition to his career in country music, Bilbrey spent twenty-four years as an on-air personality for WSM-TV, NBC’s Nashville affiliate. Bilbrey served as the weatherman on the nation’s top-rated local morning show, The Ralph Emery Show, which featured live music and skits in addition to the traditional news, weather and sports.[12]
For seven and a half years, Bilbrey served as the studio announcer for Huckabee, a TV variety show on TBN hosted by the former governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee. He also served as the announcer and Larry's sidekick on Larry's Country Diner television series on RFD-TV for 14 years (including live performances in Branson, Missouri), served as announcer on Music City Roots for 9 years and co-hosted Nashville Country Cookin' with his wife (Emy Joe) on the RFD TV Network. Additionally, he also hosted a syndicated radio show, Classic Country Today. The weekly, two-hour program was heard on approximately 175 stations nationwide. Bilbrey was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in 2015, while pursuing a variety of business opportunities and writing his memoir. In 2012, Bilbrey was recognized by the Sigma Chi fraternity with the Significant Sig Award, presented to "those alumni members whose achievements in their fields of endeavor have brought honor and prestige to the name of Sigma Chi". In 2025, Bilbrey was presented an Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for his work on The “George Jones Still Playin’ Possum” on PBS.
Penny Gilley:
Penny brings her down-home charm, personality, glitz and glamorous style to the audiences and fans she loves.
• Host of the popular country music program,
"The Penny Gilley Show," on RFD-TV. In over 55 million homes: DirecTV - 345, Dish Network -
231, ATT-Uverse - 568, 1568, Cox, Comcast, Charter Spectrum, Mediacom, Suddenlink, Sling.
Search "Penny Gilley" on YouTube, Roku and Amazon Fire.
• National spokesperson for Total People Plus
Multi-Vitamin.
• Originally from West Monroe, Louisiana.
• Penny headlined in Branson for four years.
• After her song, "The Line Drawn In The Sand", caught the attention of General Schwarzkopf during Desert Storm, he invited her to perform for his troops. She logged over 300,000 air miles performing all over the world, including Iraq, Kosovo, Bosnia, Kuwait, Japan, Germany, eleven tours to South Korea. She is a strong supporter of veterans and veteran causes.
• Country Music Assoc of Texas TV Host Award.
• Known for her traditional sound and for always
"keepin' it country."
• Available for special appearances and concerts as performer, host, MC or spokesmodel.
Bill Whyte:
Originally from Missouri, Bill Whyte is a songwriter, comedian, Hall of Fame radio announcer, performer and more.
He’s recorded two comedy song album’s “Off the Wall” and “Leave Em’ Laughin."
His songwriting credits include “Safe Haven” by Hillary Scott & The Scott Family that was included on the album “Love Remains”. That album won the Grammy Award for “Best Contemporary Christian Album of 2016. He also wrote “Crickets, the title song on the Joe Nichols album, “Retired” by Ray Stevens, “Goin’ Ugly Early” by Cledus T. Judd, and “Finger Pickin’ Good” for Kristy Cox featuring world class guitarist Tommy Emmanuel that won the Golden Guitar Award for “Best Bluegrass Recording” in Australia for 2020 as well as “Grand Ole Circle” for Darin and Brooke Aldridge, and the #1 gospel song “Blue Collar Gospel” by Jerry Salley and the Oak Ridge Boys.”
He’s also had a long morning show radio career. He’s won a CMA Award for Best Large Market Radio Personality and was given the industry’s highest honor when he was inducted in the Country Radio Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2012.
Bill plays across the country with two songwriting trios. “Hits & Grins” with Steve Dean and Victoria Venier, and “Evening in The Round” that includes Grammy winner Linda Davis and her husband Lang Scott as well as various solo shows and shows.
About Country With Heart:
Country With Heart is an all-star country music show held during CMA Music Fest week in Nashville benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The event was founded by award winning singer/songwriter Bobby Marquez in 2015 in honor of his number one fan, a former St. Jude kid, Petey Northup. To date, the annual event has raised thousands of dollars for treatments and research. Participating talent has included, Lee Roy Parnell, Exile, Rex Allen Jr., Charlie McCoy, Clint Black, Mark Wills, John Conlee, Wade Hayes, Barbara Fairchild, Crystal Gayle, Chuck Mead, Gary Chapman, David Ball, Riders in The Sky, Sylvia, Andy Griggs, Johnny Rodriguez, John Berry, Linda Davis, Larry Gatlin, Billy Yates, Becky Hobbs and more.
About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital:
The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live. St. Jude has treated children from all 50 states and from around the world. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since it opened more than 50 years ago.
About (presenting sponsor) Workout Anytime 24/7:
The name, Workout Anytime 24/7, speaks volumes, offering affordable fitness with high-quality equipment whenever you want it. Fitness that fits your life means there’s no excuse, just results. That caring approach backed by integrity has helped families across the country achieve health goals with confidence and enthusiasm through the expertise and dedication of their team. Workout Anytime 24/7 has sponsored all 10 years of Country With Heart.
About (Supporting Sponsor) Gus Arrendale/Springer Mountain Farms:
Gus Arrendale embodies the epitome of dedication and passion in his illustrious career as the President of Springer Mountain Farms. With an unwavering commitment to producing the finest, healthiest poultry, he has established an unparalleled legacy in the industry.
His remarkable achievements extend far beyond the realm of agriculture, as he stands as a beacon of humanitarianism, earning the esteemed National Humanitarian Award from the American Humane Association. Their emphasis on using 100% U.S. grown corn and soybeans in chicken feed not only reflects their dedication to superior quality but also underscores their support for domestic agriculture.
Gus’s love for music resonates deeply, evidenced by his unwavering support for talented artists and musicians. His contributions to the country music community have garnered numerous accolades, including the prestigious ROPE International Business Award and induction into the Academy of Local Musicians in Nashville.
www.springermtn.com
About Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theatre:
Voted Nashville’s #1 Dinner & Show! Located in Music Valley Village across the street from The Gaylord Opryland Hotel, the Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theatre presents a dining experience and variety show voted the best combination in Nashville. The entertainers have a rich history in country music and perform hits over the decades while hosting some of country music's biggest celebrities. The 300 seat theater with a state of the art sound and light system and family atmosphere has been home to the Country With Heart benefit for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for three years.
About (founder/host) Bobby Marquez:
Bobby Marquez is an awarded singer/songwriter, originally from South Texas. Marquez has become known for his charismatic smile and fun-loving honky tonk style of music paired with inspiring lyrics. His timely song, "Speak Love," shows his kind heart and has earned him the CMA of Texas Americana Award for 2021. In 2019, Bobby was considered for a Grammy Award for his duet with Rhonda Vincent on a song Marquez co-wrote titled, "For Awhile." The song also won CMA of Texas Duet of the Year and the Academy of Western Artists Song of the Year. Bobby was also awarded the 2018 AWA Pure Country Male Vocalist and the recipient of the first-ever CMA of Texas Cowboy/Western Artist Award. . His original tune, "The Cowboy Way," produced by the legendary Rex Allen Jr., was designated the theme song of the annual Gene Autry Museum Festival in Oklahoma. Bobby Marquez appears on television's Larry's Country Diner, The Penny Gilley Show, The Merlin Gene Show and Country Fix. While his music videos are seen around the world on various networks, his music can be heard on radio stations around the globe, including on Willie's Roadhouse on Sirius/XM Radio. Marquez's songs have been recorded by George Strait, Alan Jackson, Rhonda Vincent, Ty Herndon and Johnny Rodriguez.
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Links:
www.bobbymarquez.com
Tickets: www.eventbrite.com/countrywithheart
www.stjude.org
www.musicgives.org
www.workoutanytime.com
www.springermtn.com
www.nashvillenightlife.com
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