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Several country artists joined benefits for people affected by the July 2025 Central Texas and Hill Country floods. Two well-documented events were George Strait’s Strait to the Heart in Boerne and Band Together Texas in Austin. Both have passed; the roundup below covers announced performers and reported outcomes, not every artist or benefit connected to the floods.
George Strait’s Strait to the Heart benefit
George Strait and Estancia Estates founder Tom Cusick hosted Strait to the Heart on July 27, 2025, at Estancia at Thunder Valley, west of Boerne. The event raised over $6 million, according to an August 23 release from the Office of the Texas Governor. The release described checks presented to additional families whose primary homes had been damaged or destroyed; it did not provide a complete accounting of all proceeds or beneficiaries.
Texas Public Radio’s July 11, 2025 event report named these special guests: William Beckman, Ray Benson, Wade Bowen, Dean Dillon, Riley Green, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Kyle Park and Hudson Westbrook, along with members of Strait’s Ace in the Hole Band. Tom Cusick, Strait’s partner in Vaqueros del Mar, was also associated with the event.
Strait described the devastation and the benefit’s purpose, saying, “The destruction and loss in our community from the recent flood is hard to wrap your head around.” The report said complimentary tickets would be offered to local first responders and organizers recommended monetary donations as the best way to help. That was guidance in the 2025 event report, not a current donation instruction.
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At a check presentation to impacted families, Governor Greg Abbott said, “No one here is going to leave empty-handed to begin the process of rebuilding.” His statement accompanied the governor’s office’s report of the benefit’s fundraising and family assistance.
Band Together Texas in Austin
Band Together Texas was scheduled for August 17, 2025, at Austin’s Moody Center. A July 31 announcement from sponsor Woodforest National Bank said all proceeds would benefit the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country and the Central Texas Community Foundation. The announcement listed the following performers:
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- Miranda Lambert
- Parker McCollum
- Kelly Clarkson
- Cody Johnson
- Ronnie Dunn
- Ryan Bingham
- Wade Bowen
- Dylan Gossett
- Jack Ingram
- Lyle Lovett
- Lukas Nelson
- Jon Randall
- Randy Rogers Band
The sponsor’s announcement also listed special appearances by Matthew McConaughey, Dennis Quaid, Roger Clemens, Vince Young, Colt McCoy, Mack Brown and Emmanuel Acho, with Chris Harrison as host and presenter. These were announced appearances, not all country music performances, and the announcement alone does not confirm that every listed person ultimately appeared.
Unlike the Strait benefit, the cited Woodforest announcement did not report a final fundraising total. Its proceeds statement names the two beneficiary foundations but does not specify a final allocation between them.
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How the two documented benefits compare
| Event | Date and venue | Artists or performers named | Beneficiaries and reported proceeds | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strait to the Heart | July 27, 2025; Estancia at Thunder Valley, west of Boerne | George Strait, William Beckman, Ray Benson, Wade Bowen, Dean Dillon, Riley Green, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Kyle Park, Hudson Westbrook and members of Ace in the Hole Band; Tom Cusick was associated with the event. | Over $6 million raised, according to the Texas Governor’s Office. The release described checks to additional families whose primary homes were damaged or destroyed, but did not give a complete accounting or beneficiary list. | Past event. |
| Band Together Texas | August 17, 2025; Moody Center, Austin | Announced lineup: Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum, Kelly Clarkson, Cody Johnson, Ronnie Dunn, Ryan Bingham, Wade Bowen, Dylan Gossett, Jack Ingram, Lyle Lovett, Lukas Nelson, Jon Randall and Randy Rogers Band. | Woodforest said all proceeds would benefit the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country and the Central Texas Community Foundation. Final total: not stated in the cited announcement. | Past event. |
Who these benefits were helping
The events responded to the July 2025 floods in Central Texas and the Hill Country, including communities in and around Kerr County. The governor’s office maintains a flood response updates archive documenting the state’s response. This article is a selection of documented examples, not a complete roster of every artist or benefit tied to flood relief.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Finding current ways to help
The concerts and their ticket offers are over, so old event pages or ticket listings should not be treated as active ways to contribute. For current relief options, check official information from the relevant beneficiary foundations or government response channels directly. The 2025 reporting does not establish a live donation route today, and this article does not endorse a current payment link.
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