(L-R): Big Kenny of Big & Rich, Onsite Foundation CEO Miles Adcox, Live Nation’s Brian O’Connell, Hayley Hubbard, Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard, Former Blackhawks Player Adam Burish
Photo Credit: Jason Kempin / Getty Images
The Onsite Foundation celebrated their annual INSPIRE event last night, with a special evening honoring Live Nation’s Brian O’Connell with their Inspiration Award. The night recognized O’Connell and his team’s ongoing commitment to helping the victims and families of the Oct. 1 tragedy in Las Vegas. At an intimate event at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works, sincere speeches were given by guests from the country music community including Maren Morris, Tyler and Hayley Hubbard, Big & Rich, Rory Feek, Onsite’s CEO Miles Adcox and more. The evening also saw performances by Jason Aldean and Big & Rich paying tribute to the work and commitment to music demonstrated by O’Connell and The Onsite Foundation.
The Onsite Foundation has created a 100% Scholarship, trauma and grief intensive program specifically for those who lost loved ones from the Oct. 1 tragedy and proceeds from last night’s INSPIRE event will benefit this directly, helping to find healing through mental health resources.
“An event like last night helps fund a mission beyond our wildest dreams,” said Miles Adcox, CEO of The Onsite Foundation. “Every dollar raised will go to a family member who suffered a loss as a result of the tragedy in Las Vegas last year, allowing them a fully paid scholarship to come spend a week at Onsite. It has been amazing to get to work with Brian who came to us and said “help me, help them,” and through programs like this we can.”
“The INSPIRE award is the person sitting next to you, we need to inspire each other,” said Brian O’Connell, President of Country Touring at Live Nation. “We can make our community, and everyone we touch that much better, by just humanizing mental health. I am honored to accept this award on behalf of everyone who’s been touched by mental illness or touched by a loss.”
About The Onsite Foundation:
The Onsite Foundation provides funding to vulnerable populations including, victims of mass tragedies, refugees, veterans, first responders, creatives, and every day people needing mental health resources. This aids in the healing and rebuilding of those who struggle from the effects of trauma, abuse, stress, mental-health and relationship issues. Inspire is an event honoring and celebrating the creative community and the individuals who give their heart and soul to make it what it is. This energy and culture is made possible by the tireless efforts of those who use their platforms to make an impact by giving back to their communities and inspiring those in need. Past recipients include Troy Tomlinson, Tracie and Scott Hamilton, Rod Essig and Pete Fisher. Past performers include Kenny Chesney, Wynonna, Jewel, Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Big & Rich, Ashley Monroe, LeAnn Rimes, and many more. For more information, visit: https://inspirenashville.net/about/.
Jason Aldean performing
Photo Credit: Jason Kempin / Getty Images
About Brian O’Connell:
President of Country Music Touring for Live Nation, Brian O’Connell is first and foremost a music fan. His passion for the artist, live shows and the fan experience remains engrained in his award-winning career of more than 25 years. O’Connell not only has a hand in some of the most important careers in country music, but has helped to revolutionize country touring. Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum, Luke Bryan, Brooks & Dunn, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett, Sam Hunt and many more are part of his growing tour legacy. He developed the innovative and successful Country Megaticket, and continues to grow a vibrant festival division, including Watershed Music and Camping Festival, Faster Horses, Country LakeShake, Tortuga Music Festival and Seven Peaks Music Festival. In 2018, O’Connell was honored with the CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award and he is a eight-time winner of the Academy of Country Music’s Promoter of the Year award – more than any other promoter. He is a four-time winner of the Country Music Association’s Talent Buyer/Promoter of the Year award. In 2013 he was named Promoter of the Year by IEBA (The International Entertainment Buyers Association) and recognized by the industry’s leading tour source Pollstar with the 2006 Bill Graham Promoter of the Year Award, as well as the 2017, 2014 and 2013 Talent Buyer of the Year award.
