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Bianca Paige Way Dedication Ceremony June 26th Featuring: Ty Herndon, Shelly Fairchild, Chris Housman, And More

By press release on June 3, 2021 in In The Press, Press Releases

Nashville, Tenn. (June 2, 2021) – On March 16, 2021 Nashville City Council gave its final approval by officially changing Carney Street to Bianca Paige Way. It is now time for the Nashville community to celebrate this momentous occasion, as it is the first street named after a drag queen in the entire country.

On Saturday, June 26, local LGBTQ organizations, businesses, and the community will come together for the street Dedication and Celebration. The ceremony will feature performances by country music superstar Ty Herndon, Chris Housman, Brody Ray, Shelly Fairchild and more, all coming together to memorialize one of Nashville’s most prolific female impersonators “Bianca Paige: the Pantomime Rage.” The Day begins at 3pm with some of Nashville’s and Tennessee’s most important dignitaries, including Mayor John Cooper and U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, coming together for the ribbon cutting.

Mark Middleton, a.k.a. “Bianca Paige the Pantomime Rage”, became a prolific female impersonator in the 1980’s until his death in 2010. When Mark received his HIV/AIDS diagnosis he made the courageous decision to go public, using Bianca Paige as his platform to encourage testing, education, and to erode the stigmatization associated with living with such a diagnosis. Through Bianca Paige, Mark raised over $1,000,000 in his lifetime, ONE DOLLAR at a time, funding education, treatment, and research for children stricken with the autoimmune disease.

His work led to the formation of the Bianca Paige Awareness Network. Since Mark’s death BPAN works to continue his mission and has been honored by declarations from every Nashville Mayor and City Council celebrating his life, Bianca Paige Day, held annually at Trax located at 1501 Ensley Blvd Nashville 37210.

The Bianca Paige Awareness Network recognizes the council’s action as a major step in honoring the contributions made by Nashville’s LGBTQ+ community. BPAN happily extends a thank you to Ron Sanford, Steven Kiss, John Paris, Michael Dolly Wilson, Mayor John Cooper, John Lasiter, Colby Sledge, Brett Withers, the LGBT Caucus, and the Metro Council for making this possible.

The Bianca Paige Awareness Network in partnership with Music City Prep Clinic, will hold a very special two-day celebration on June 26 and 27.

Bianca Paige Way Dedication Ceremony
Day: June 26, 2021
Time: 3:00pm
Location: Bianca Paige Way, Nashville, TN 37210 / Trax 1501 Ensley Blvd.

Tickets to the dedication are complimentary, however, RSVPs are required:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-rainbow-celebration-2021-bianca-paige-way-dedication-and-celebration-tickets-156834826187

Bianca Paige was a true advocate for those living with HIV, AIDS, and the LGBTQ community. She was not alone in her cause for countless men and women have worked to further LGBT rights in Nashville and abroad.

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St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® Celebrates 30th Anniversary Of Country Cares For St. Jude Kids® With Dedication Of Patient Family Room To Alabama Lead Singer Randy Owen And His Family

By FOCUS admin on January 25, 2019 in In The Press

Country Cares for St. Jude Kids, the largest philanthropic gathering in country music, has raised more than $800 million for children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases

Owen is serving as a mentor for up-and-coming artists to work with St. Jude. Artists who have
participated include Luke Bryan, Jake Owen, Keith Urban, Thomas Rhett, Brad Paisley, Hunter Hayes, Kelsea Ballerini, Brett Eldredge, Florida Georgia Line, Darius Rucker, Tim McGraw, Lady Antebellum, Justin Moore, Big & Rich, and many more.

“The most important thing I’ll ever do, apart from being a father and a husband, is helping children at St. Jude,” said Country Music Hall of Famer and Alabama lead singer Randy Owen. “Over the past 30 years, I’ve watched children at St. Jude grow up to be happy, healthy adults. This room dedication shows that the country music industry has made a true impact, and I’m glad I could be part of that.”

Following the Country Cares format, St. Jude radio programs now reach beyond country music — including gospel, rock and Hispanic platforms. Because of programs like these, families at St. Jude never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.

Inaugural Country Cares for St. Jude in 1989

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.®

It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food –because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on Twitter and Instagram and subscribing to its YouTube channel.