CMT News

Recording artist Joe Diffie's sixth annual Country Steps In For First Steps concert recently reeled in $80,000 for a program which benefits families with physically challenged children in the Nashville, Tennessee area. Featuring such music greats as Diffie, Collin Raye, Ricochet, Pam Tillis, Rhett Akins and Michael Peterson, the concert event which also coincides with a silent auction, raised twice as much money for the charity as last year's concert. Diffie was also recently honored at the Unsung Hero Awards by the Council of Community Services. For the last three years, the organization has held awards ceremonies to acknowledge local staff and board members of Music City's non-profit organizations. This year, Diffie was selected as the very first Honorary Unsung Hero for his extensive charity work (First Steps, the National Psoriasis Awareness, Special Olympics, the Children's Organ Transplant Association, Operation Smile, Country Music Cares, the Diabetes Association and the American Lung Association).