Kelsea Ballerini Turned a Hospital Visit Into Something Truly Special for Knoxville Kids
The Knoxville native helped launch a new Musicians On Call program at Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital, bringing live music to young patients and their families.
Kelsea Ballerini returned to her hometown with a guitar, a few familiar songs and a gift that will reach far beyond one special performance.
The six-time GRAMMY nominee joined Musicians On Call and hospital leaders to launch the Kelsea Ballerini Musicians On Call Program at Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital. The new program brings live music directly to patients’ bedsides, creating moments of comfort and connection for children, their families, caregivers and hospital staff. It also marks Musicians On Call’s first program in the Knoxville area.
Ballerini celebrated with a performance for patients and staff, sharing songs including “I Would, Would You,” “Dibs” and “If You Go Down (I’m Going Down Too),” along with the feel-good singalong “Lean On Me.” She also visited patients who couldn’t attend, bringing the music and conversation right to their rooms.
“Music is one of those things that just meets you where you are,” Ballerini said. “Whatever you need, whether it’s to smile, dance, celebrate, grieve or feel less alone, it’s going to be there for you.”
For Ballerini, the day marked a meaningful new chapter in a relationship with Musicians On Call that spans more than a decade. She has volunteered at patients’ bedsides in Nashville and Phoenix, as well as virtually during the pandemic. Now, thanks to support from her Feel Your Way Through Charitable Fund, that same kind of connection will continue in the city she calls home.
“Kelsea has been working with Musicians On Call for more than a decade, and she is absolutely magical every time she sets foot in a hospital room,” said Pete Griffin, the organization’s president and CEO. “Her generosity is now making it possible for us to bring that experience to patients and families in her hometown.”
At Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital, the program will become an ongoing part of the patient experience. Musicians On Call volunteers will perform at the bedside, offering patients and families a welcome pause during difficult hospital stays.
“We are incredibly grateful to Musicians On Call for bringing the healing power of music to our patients and families,” said Adam Cook, the hospital’s chief development and public affairs officer. He thanked Ballerini for sharing her time and talent to create moments of joy during challenging times.
The launch brings Musicians On Call’s bedside programming to Knoxville for the first time. For more than 25 years, the organization has delivered live, virtual, songwriting and streaming music programs in healthcare settings across all 50 states, reaching more than 1.25 million people.
And Ballerini’s hometown is just getting started: Musicians On Call is inviting local musicians and music lovers to volunteer. Musicians perform for patients, while Volunteer Guides help make each bedside visit welcoming and comfortable. Learn more at Musicians On Call.
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