Country Singer Zac Brown to Receive Veterans Voice Award at 2025 AMAs
In 2011, the singer-songwriter launched Camp Southern Ground, a retreat center based in Fayetteville, Georgia, that offers a variety of programs for former military personnel and children. He also regularly invites vets on stage during his shows to help raise awareness for the men and women who have risked their lives for this country.
Brown's unwavering support of the veteran community hasn't gone unnoticed.
On Memorial Day, the 46-year-old musician will be honored at the 2025 American Music Awards with the inaugural Veterans Voice Award, given to artists who have used their platforms to make meaningful, lasting impacts on the lives of veterans.
'This award means a lot to me because of the awareness that it's going to create for our veterans programs,' Brown
'The more people that are aware of how deserving these incredible people are, the more help that we can bring to them,' he added.
Related Stories
3/1/2025
2/15/2025
'They're such incredible, dynamic people that make a lot of sacrifices, from their family, the quality of their family life when they return home, their mental wellness, all of those things, so that we can be free and able to be here.'
The award will be presented by the Easy Day Foundation, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit founded by Frank Fertitta IV and Landon Gyulay in 2023 that supports veterans in their transition to civilian life.
The AMAs, which will air live on May 26 during Military Appreciation Month on CBS and Paramount+, partnered with the organization to highlight the work of former and current military members, all while raising funds for the veteran community.
Fertitta told The Epoch Times that presenting the Veterans Voice Award to Brown will be a major highlight of the show.
'We'll also showcase inspiring stories directly from Veterans and active-duty service members, people whose courage defines what this country stands for,' Fertitta said.
Viewers can also expect to see 'powerful performances tied into the theme of service, resilience, and unity,' Gyulay added.
'What's most important to us is that Veterans aren't just being talked about, they're being included, front and center. This show is for them. And we hope it sparks a wave of compassion and commitment that lasts far beyond the broadcast.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Elle
2 hours ago
- Elle
Belly Finally Got an Engagement Ring on 'The Summer I Turned Pretty'—And You Can Shop It Now
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. If you were surprised that Jeremiah Fisher proposed to Belly Conklin without a ring—and without kneeling!—in the season 3 premiere of The Summer I Turned Pretty, then let the newest episode make up for that. In this week's chapter of the Prime Video series, Jeremiah finally gets down on one knee and asks for Belly's hand in marriage with a proper diamond. The ring in question is The Diamond Fizz Ring from Catbird. It's a sweet and delicate piece that fits Belly's youthful, summery style, consisting of a yellow gold band and a round white diamond. This just marks one of the many ways the Brooklyn-based jeweler teamed up with TSITP for its third and final season. The brand and the show also collaborated on a seven-piece collection inspired by Belly's story and summery themes, from infinity-shaped rings (if you know, you know) to seashell charms. Below, Catbird's chief creative officer Leigh Batnick Plessner spills all the details on Belly's new bling. First, let's lay out the stats: The Fizz Ring is made of 100-percent recycled, solid 14K yellow gold with a band measuring about .80mm. As for the stone, it's a 3mm-round, .089-carat recycled white diamond with a brilliant cut. The piece currently retails online and in stores for $289. A petite version is priced at $168. The Catbird team primarily works with 14K gold, and this ring is only offered in that material because of its size. Silver would've been 'too delicate,' Plessner tells ELLE, 'and we really want it to stand the test of time.' Which is exactly what you want in an engagement ring. Plessner loves seeing how different people style the piece, whether that means wearing it on different fingers or stacking it with other pieces. 'The diamond is slightly lifted so it can fit in with other rings [when stacked],' she says. (That might even include Belly's future wedding band.) The ring was not custom-designed for the series, but instead pulled from Catbird's Fizz collection, which is made entirely with recycled brilliant cut diamonds and solid 14K gold. It first debuted 'as we were emerging from COVID,' Plessner recalls. The name 'fizz' was meant to evoke 'a little bit of effervescence, and it felt so good to be out and about,' she says. The design is intended for both everyday use and for engagements. 'It felt equally perfect to me when they pulled that ring,' Plessner says of the TSITP team. 'Something that we always think about with our jewelry is this idea of how different people wear it, how it can shape-shift to suit your style, both in the moment and over time,' Plessner explains. 'Or this idea of maybe one day a child finding a ring in their parents' jewelry box and fitting it into their lives. So I think it suits young love because it's so wearable and it can grow with you over time, and it can always suit whatever evolution of your personal style you might be in.' Belly is 20 years old and a junior in college when she gets engaged, which means a ring like this can still match her style as she grows and evolves through the years. The linkup began when Plessner received a personal Instagram DM from Carol Lim, a co-founder of Opening Ceremony and a close friend of Jenny Han, the author and showrunner of The Summer I Turned Pretty. 'She's obviously iconic New York retail royalty,' she recalls. When meeting with Lim, 'we started to talk about the idea of a collection and a collaboration, and we have some really massive Summer I Turned Pretty fans on our team as well, so everyone was really excited,' she says. And while the series might seem to cater to a younger audience (we adult women who binge the show after work beg to differ), there's something universal about its romantic and summery appeal. 'Everybody has a relationship with summer, but this idea of this pocket of time when the beach is so special—that feels really connected to an East Coast summer experience I'm so familiar with,' Plessner says. Belly's ring captures a rising ethos around engagement rings rather than a specific trending design. The Fizz Ring, like many of Catbird's offerings, can be described as 'jewelry that makes you feel more like yourself,' according to Plessner. 'In that sense, it's really reflective of a moment where people really feel free to pursue their path.' Belly knows how to do exactly that. As Lola Tung, the actress behind the character, recently told ELLE, she knows what she wants, even if that means facing criticism for getting married at a young age. 'She knows she's young, but she's also quite stubborn and is making decisions for herself,' Tung said. 'She's like, 'I need to do what I need to do for myself to protect myself, and to feel safe, and to feel like I am in control of my story and my life.''
Hamilton Spectator
2 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro to receive key to the city for ‘creative relationship' with Toronto
Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro is set to receive Toronto's key to the city in a ceremony Thursday morning. Best known for films such as 'Pan's Labyrinth' and 'The Shape of Water,' the 60-year-old del Toro has received several achievements over his more than three decade career, including three Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. 'Mayor Olivia Chow will present a Key to the City, honouring a celebrated filmmaker whose visionary work has helped shape global cinema and who has maintained a long-standing creative relationship with Toronto,' the City of Toronto teased in a media release. The key presentation will take place during a joint ceremony with Cinespace Studios, where the Marine Terminal campus sound stages by the city's waterfront will be renamed in honour of the Mexican director's contributions to the film industry and Toronto's cultural landscape. The city release did not name del Toro as the recipient, but a spokesperson with Cinespace Studios confirmed it will be him. 'The Key to the City is a traditional symbolic honour, as the city has no physical gates to unlock,' the city release continued. 'The ceremonial key and certificate represent the City's recognition of exceptional civic contributions. The Mayor selects the recipients, acknowledging those who have contributed positively to Toronto and its residents.' A post shared by Acadia Art and Rare Books Est. 1931 (@acadia_books) From filming movies in the city to advocating for an independent theatre in Roncesvalles, del Toro also has a publicized affection for Toronto. In July 2024, when the Revue Cinema was facing the threat of eviction and closure, del Toro urged Chow to save the theatre. In a followup open letter , he wrote: 'It would be tragic to lose a venue like that, which is sustained by the sheer love of its patrons and is a hub of production and many, many of the film practitioners (gaffers, set decorators, set designers, etc.) are proud and avid cinephiles. The denizens of Toronto tend to be humorously self-deprecating, but to an outsider, the city is a place that loves cinema with real passion.' Del Toro commonly refers to Toronto as his 'second home' and has shouted-out his favourite restaurants, theatres and bookstores across the city in the past. With files from Richie Assaly and Peter Howell Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Malcolm-Jamal Warner Was America's Brother
I am sad, so profoundly sad. I screamed, literally, on a call, when an alert crossed my laptop this week that Malcolm-Jamal Warner had died. I could not believe it, did not want to believe he, my friend, had drowned during a swim, somewhere in Costa Rica, while on a vacation with his wife and little daughter. Fifty-four, only 54-years-old. Why do the good often go prematurely? Matthew Perry. Tupac Shakur. Amy Winehouse. Kurt Cobain. Marilyn Monroe. Aaliyah. Bobby Kennedy. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Billie Holiday. Bruce Lee. Selena. Janis Joplin. Vincent van Gogh. Whitney Houston. James Dean. Princess Diana. Brittany Murphy, the list is diverse, mythical, and, yes, so profoundly sad. Meanwhile, we have also had a relentless parade of Black male celebrities—Chadwick Boseman, Kobe Bryant, DMX, Michael K. Williams, and more than I dare to count this decade—just go, gone, none of them even remotely senior citizens. Any death troubles my soul mightily, no matter who it is, famous or not. But I must admit, without shame, that it hurts in a certain kind of way any time I hear of another Black man gone, as elder Black folks often say, before their time. The late actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner attends the Disney ABC Television Group TCA summer press tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on August 6, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. The late actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner attends the Disney ABC Television Group TCA summer press tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on August 6, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic/Getty Images Now it is Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Emmy-nominated actor. Grammy-winning musician. Grammy-nominated poet. Beloved husband, father, son. I do not recall when nor where nor how I first personally met him, but it was back in the day. Nevertheless, like hundreds of millions of viewers across the planet I was introduced to Malcolm-Jamal via The Cosby Show, one of only three U.S. television programs which have been No. 1 in ratings for five seasons (the others: All In The Family and American Idol). To say The Cosby Show was revolutionary and game-changing would be a gross understatement. In the 1980s America of Ronald Reagan, the AIDS and crack epidemics, and the initial explosion of brands like Apple and Nike, the show was a unicorn. It saved a struggling NBC network. It introduced our nation to a different way of viewing the Black experience. It became a global pop culture phenomenon during its eight-season run. We had never witnessed a Black family like this in television history: two professional parents with five children—four girls and one boy—supremely confident in their beings, the entire household a manifestation of the post-civil rights era of what was possible. No racist stereotypes, no demeaning facial expressions, no bowed heads, and no broken bodies from the old Hollywood. Yes, legit and righteous representation do matter, and as the lone male child in the clan Malcolm-Jamal remixed Theo Huxtable with an enchanting recipe of Black boy joy, a cool jazz meets hip-hop swagger, and an unsatiable thirst for the wholeness of life. Bill Cosby acts with Malcolm-Jamal Warner in a scene from "The Cosby Show." Bill Cosby acts with Malcolm-Jamal Warner in a scene from "The Cosby Show." Jacques M. Chenet/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images I am just slightly older than Malcolm-Jamal and never thought I would see someone like him on television. But there he was, in living color. I was inspired. I was doubly amped when I learned he had been born in Jersey City, N.J. like me. He was me and I was him. In Malcolm-Jamal's smile and laughter were mine, too. In his struggles from boyhood to manhood were my trials and tribulations, too. He was a kindred spirit, and, moreover, what Mary Tyler Moore meant to women 10 years earlier is what Malcolm-Jamal Warner meant to Black America, to boys Black like me. No, we cannot delete what the show's creator, Bill Cosby, has been charged with these many moons later. The rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment allegations are brutal and "tarnished," as Malcolm-Jamal said in one interview, the great legacy of The Cosby Show, likely forever. But we also cannot merely throw away this historic TV show and its participants because of one person. The Malcolm-Jamal Warner that I came to know, as an actor, as a musician, as a fellow poet, as a voice, leader, and bridge-builder, was kind, supportive, and genuinely full of hope and love. If one simply scans any social media platform since the tragedy one will see the testimonies, from a wide spectrum, saying the exact same. Malcolm-Jamal Warner was a very different kind of man. Alas, I do not know what Malcolm-Jamal Warner thought about the accusations against his TV father other than a few statements here and there that one can easily Google. I imagine that he was tormented, and torn. I never spoke with him about being on a hit TV show so early in life. He knew I knew, just like I know he knew I had been on the very first season of MTV's The Real World. Ours was a safe space, two products of pop culture, who preferred to speak about poetry, music, and hip-hop. Two Black men in America, on this Earth, trying to navigate any and all spaces, perpetually, as we journeyed through the chapters of Reagan, the Bushes, the Clintons, Obama, Biden, and Trump. I do know in losing Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and the way we lost him, with so much breath still to breathe, leaving his wife and daughter and mother and father behind, is collective trauma that is unexplainable. I have cried, my wife has cried, my wife's mother and so many others we know have cried. Because losing him is akin to losing a blood relative, a close friend. Because Malcolm-Jamal, named after civil rights icon Malcolm X and jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal, was truly the brother we all needed. Kevin Powell is a Grammy-nominated poet, filmmaker, and author of 16 books. He previously wrote a Newsweek cover story on Spike Lee. Kevin lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. Follow him on all social media platforms: @poetkevinpowell. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
