"Idol" Alumni Affected by Nashville's Floods
"American Idol" alumni and country singers, Carrie Underwood and Danny Gokey both owe a lot to Nashville.
Not only is it the heart of country and Christian music, two genres in which they have both have thrived, but it's also a place they consider home.
So when the news came about the record-breaking rains, which flooded the Grand Ole Opry and the Wildhorse Saloon, where Gokey performed just last week, it took him and the rest of the country music industry by storm.
Flooding at the Grand Ole Opry
Gallery: Flooding in Tennessee
Gokey, who lives in the Hermitage area, was lucky however, because his neighborhood didn't see the amount of damage some of the others did when Nashville flooded over the weekend, USA Today reports.
"I didn't realize how serious it was until I saw the news," Gokey said. Yet he did experience some of the storm's effects. "Even though we're on a hill, our backyard started filling up. I've never seen that much water -- it started filling up pretty quickly.
"I went to the gym yesterday, and there was traffic everywhere. The Target, the Kohl's -- everything is in pretty desperate shape. You actually see stores under water, and it's a reality check," he added.
Photos: Season 9 Contestants
Photos: The "Idol" Finale
As for Underwood, Nashville, has really stolen her heart and helped to launch her post-"Idol" career.
"I love living in Nashville!" Underwood said in an interview with the Grand Ole Opry, in which she is also member. "It's so beautiful and the people are awesome! I feel at home there and hope to live there for the rest of my life!"
The Academy of Country Music's 2010 Entertainer of the Year recalls when she was first became a Grand Ole Opry member on March 15, 2008. She was inducted by country music legend Garth Brooks and later performed "Jesus Take the Wheel" with Vince Gill.
"It's really hard to believe that it's been a whole two years since I was invited to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry. I guess time flies when you're having fun!" she said. "I was so shocked that everyone managed to pull one over on me! Seeing Randy walk out on that stage was such an exciting moment! I had no clue all of this was going down...everything after that was kind of a crazy happy blur!"
Since her Grand Ole Opry induction, the Grammy winner has written three albums, gotten engaged and has performed at the legendary venue several times.
So which other country artists have been affected by Nashville's record-breaking floods?
Grammy Award-winning pop/country singer Taylor Swift, whose hometown is Nashville, told E! Online that she's devastated.
"Right now Nashville is under water," Swift said. "We had the worst storm in 35 years, so please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. A lot of people back home are not doing well."
Some country stars took to Twitter to share their thoughts and experiences regarding the devastating Nashville floods.
• According to E! Online, country singer and former "Dancing with the Stars" pro Julianne Hough tweeted, "Hey guys! Please keep the families and everyone else in Nashville in your thoughts and prayers... They really need it right now! Thanks."
• Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban and Kenney Chesney tweeted out to their fans, urging them to help relief efforts by donating to the Nashville Red Cross.
• Chuck Wicks tweeted, "So many of my friends have been hit with the floods..keep them in your thoughts. Just found out my Bus/Trailer is Under Water," CMT News reports.
• On Monday, Brad Paisley tweeted: "On the positive side everyone is safe. On the negative... I think all my road guitar gear, amps, effects, are under 3 ft of river." In another message, he added, "Not complaining though. Very very thankful to have weathered this. Prayers go out to anyone in these dire situations."
• Dierks Bentley returned to Nashville following Friday's (April 30) performance with the Travelin' McCourys at Merlefest in Wilkesboro, N.C., and planned to appear Sunday in Knoxville, Tenn. Instead, he canceled the Knoxville show and Monday's concert in Charlottesville, Va., and spent his time trying to empty his flooded basement with a bucket. Eventually, he put together a makeshift pump to remove the water.
"Replaced bucket with hodge podge of leftover pieces from home depot," he wrote on Twitter. "It's been ransacked."
There have been reports that a Nashville fundraising concert may be in the works.
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