Russell Dickerson recently received another award, but it isn’t for his successful music career. Russell and his wife, Kailey, were given the Randy Owen Angels Among Us Award, presented to them for their ongoing support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
“What have Russell and Kailey Dickerson done to deserve this beautiful award?” Dickerson said during the bi-annual Country Cares event in Memphis. “I’m not the biggest superstar in country music by any means, nor am I the biggest donor to St. Jude by any means either. And the only thing I can really think of why it would be us up here is the word ‘yes.’ We get pulled in a lot of directions in this industry and business. We get a lot asked of us to be there, fly there, play here, call here.
“And honestly, as we have built a family, it’s become a lot more ‘nos,'” he continues. “But if I ever hear the two magical words ‘St. Jude’ – yes. And it’s that same ‘yes’ that these St. Jude families get every day. St. Jude is going to do everything within their world-class power to make sure there are as many ‘yeses’ while you’re here as possible.”
Kailey, who is expecting the couple’s third child, also expressed her gratitude for being presented with the Randy Owen Angels Among Us Award.
“You meet these kids and these families, and you cannot leave St. Jude the same as when you walk in,” Kailey acknowledges. “It’s impossible. “So we want to say thank you to Randy and Kelly [Owen]. Thank you for paving the way for this calling in country music. It’s such an honor to be a part of it.”
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Other Country Artists Who Have Supported St. Jude
Russell and Kailey are just two of the many celebrities who have been given the Randy Owen Angels Among Us Award. Count Old Dominion, Lady A, Scotty McCreery, Darius Rucker, and Florida Georgia Line as just some of the artists who have received the honor, acknowledging their dedication to the work of St. Jude.
Earlier this year, Keith Urban was presented the Randy Owen Angels Among Us Award, given to him by Randy during the annual Country Radio Seminar.
“Being recognized with the Angels Among Us Award is not something I take lightly,” Keith said of the honor. “I’ve witnessed the courage shown by the children and families at St. Jude for more than 20 years, and it never ceases to amaze me. By standing together, we’ve been able to help St. Jude continue advancing research and treatment for children around the world with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is an absolute honor to stand behind a mission this meaningful.”
When presenting Keith with the Randy Owen Angels Among Us Award, Randy recalled his first encounter with Keith, which was decades ago.
“I met Keith back in the 90s, I think. The first time I remember seeing you was in New York City, after we had been put in the Hall of Fame. … I got to know you there,” Randy shared. “And when you came to St. Jude, I became a bigger fan, and always will be. ‘Cause you know what? When we leave this world, it’s what we’re gonna leave behind. We’re gonna leave something we gave, and we didn’t give. You, my friend, are a giver. I want to present the Randy Owen Angels Among Us Award to you, with all my love, all my respect, on behalf of all of the beautiful chidlren at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.”
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital offers completely free treatment to children battling cancer and other serious illnesses, along with offering housing, food, and other expenses for family members. Find more information, and make a donation, at StJude.org.