Introduction
An Emotional Tribute That Moved Randy Owen to Leave the Stage
The 30th Annual Country Cares weekend, held at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, turned into an unforgettable moment when a group of country stars came together to honor Randy Owen in a deeply touching way.
During a special songwriters’ night, Randy Owen joined Clint Black, Jay Cohen, and Michael Ray as they each took turns performing their greatest hits. At one point, Randy jokingly said that the younger guys should play a few extra songs because “no one wants to hear my old hits from the ’80s.”
That light-hearted moment quickly turned into something far more powerful.
Michael Ray began to improvise a heartfelt tribute, with Jay Cohen joining in. Together, they delivered a moving performance dedicated to Randy—honoring not just his music, but his decades of compassion and commitment to helping children through St. Jude.
Randy remained on stage during the tribute, visibly emotional. When the song ended, he quietly excused himself to gather his composure, leaving the audience deeply touched.
At 69 years old, Randy Owen has been a driving force behind Country Cares since its founding in 1989, following a personal request from St. Jude’s founder, Danny Thomas. Over the past three decades, Country Cares has raised more than $800 million to support the fight against childhood cancer—a legacy built on hope, heart, and humanity.
If you’d like to help continue Randy’s mission, you can become a Partner in Hope by donating to St. Jude. Every dollar makes a difference in the lives of children and their families.