Robert Earl Keen Breaks Down Announcing the Death Toll as 134, Then Stuns Everyone by Calling in Country Music’s Biggest Names for a Flood Relief Concert That No One Saw Coming.

Robert Earl Keen Assembles Star-Studded Benefit Concert for Texas Hill Country Flood Victims

In the wake of the catastrophic July 4th flood that devastated the Texas Hill Country—claiming 134 lives and leaving many still missing—legendary Texas troubadour Robert Earl Keen is turning heartbreak into hope.

“As most of you know, the Texas Hill Country — and namely, my hometown of Kerrville — has been crippled by unprecedented flooding,” Keen said in a heartfelt video posted the day after the storm. “We must help everyone as much as we can, for as long as we can.”

And now, he’s doing exactly that.

🎶 REK & Friends: Applause For The Cause
Date: August 28
Location: Whitewater Amphitheater, Canyon Lake, Texas
Presented by: Buc-ee’s
Proceeds benefit: Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country
Ticket price: $99 (GA), $200 (Reserved)
First responder ticket gifting available

A Concert of Compassion
Brought together under Keen’s leadership and sponsored by Buc-ee’s—who also donated $1 million to the cause—this concert is more than a show. It’s a lifeline.

“When we learned 100 percent of our commitment goes to the Community Foundation of the Hill Country, we were all in,” said Buc-ee’s founder Beaver Aplin.

🔥 Lineup Highlights
This is not your average festival—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime gathering of country, Americana, and Texas music greats, many of whom have deep ties to the region:

Robert Earl Keen (with special guest Tyler Childers)

Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall, & Jack Ingram

Cross Canadian Ragweed

Jamey Johnson, Cody Jinks, Aaron Watson, Hayes Carll

Cleto Cordero, Jamestown Revival, Ryan Bingham, Sarah Jarosz

Randy Rogers, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Terry Allen, KAZIMI

…and dozens more Texas favorites.

Music kicks off at 3 PM and will stretch well into the night.

💙 A Community Effort
The tragedy at Camp Mystic, where many young lives were lost or uprooted, brought national attention to the devastation. Now, through Applause For The Cause, the Texas music community is rallying to bring both relief and remembrance.

And just as Skyler Derrington sang her rewritten “Hallelujah” to honor those lost, this concert will serve as a chorus of unity, healing, and action.

How to Help:

🎟️ Buy a ticket (and consider gifting one to a local first responder)

💸 Donate directly to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country

📢 Spread the word

When tragedy strikes, Texas shows up.
And on August 28, the Hill Country will hear the sound of healing—one chord, one voice, one act of love at a time.