Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's daughter helps 'Feed the Front Line' with virtual concert

An all-star online concert hosted by CMT wants to help feed front-line workers in Nashville. 

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley and Kelsea Ballerini top a bill of more than 40 acts slated to perform "Feed the Front Line LIVE" on Wednesday via CMT social media channels. 

Artists offer at-home performances during "mealtime" hours on CMT's YouTube and Facebook pages — 9 a.m. CST (breakfast), 1 p.m. CST (lunch) and 7 p.m. CST (dinner). During the show, viewers can contribute to Feed the Front Line, a nonprofit purchasing meals from struggling restaurants to feed essential workers.  

And it's a family event for McGraw and Hill. Maggie McGraw, the couple's 21-year-old daughter and vice president of Feed the Front Line's Nashville chapter, helped organize the show. 

Maggie McGraw started working with Feed the Front Line in April, juggling college work — she's studying oceans and climate at Stanford University — with her new philanthropic duties.

"I knew I wanted to do something to help people during the pandemic," Maggie McGraw said. "If I have the means to do it, then I should do it." 

She continued, "Local restaurants in Nashville make up the city. They're a huge, additive part of it ... (they) increase the character of the city." 

The youth-led organization — launched in March by Ben Schecter, a 23-year-old Vanderbilt alum — operates in Charlotte, North Carolina; Nashville; and Chicago, as well as throughout Texas and Kentucky.

While in Nashville during a safer-at-home order, Maggie McGraw said a friend working in the Dallas chapter connected her to a group launching Feed the Front Line in Music City. 

At publication time, Feed the Front Line Nashville had raised $50,000 to donate an estimated 4,500 meals from a dozen local restaurants. The organization distributes these meals to hospital employees, firefighters, police, assisted living homes and addiction treatment centers, among others. 

Maggie McGraw connected with Food Company, a local favorite in Green Hills, as well as Coffee and Coconuts in Franklin. 

"Food Company told me that they would take as many meals as we would give them," she said. "They didn't care about the amount of work; they just wanted to help the front-line workers and vulnerable communities." 

Coffee and Coconuts has delivered 350 meals so far, said cafe owner Missi Gallimore. The shop offered takeout during Tennessee's safer-at-home order, partially reopening earlier this month.  

"It helps us pay our employees and helps with our payroll," said Gallimore, who runs a music management company, as well as the restaurant. Two of her clients — Shy Carter and Sam Williams — perform Wednesday. 

It's been challenging to juggle 18 college units and helping organize the show, Maggie McGraw said, but watching the show come together has been her "favorite part" of getting involved. She's most excited to see Grace Potter's contribution. 

"I get so surprised," Maggie McGraw said. "I know all these artists in Nashville are so talented. But you never realize the sheer talent of people until you see them stripped down, playing with just a guitar and voice and no editing.

"I'm really excited for people to see it." 

Find out more at ftfl.org. 

'Feed the Front Line LIVE' lineup 

• Adam Melchor
• Avril Lavigne
• Billy Ray Cyrus
• Blanco Brown
• Brad Paisley
• Brett Young
• Caitlyn Smith
• Carly Pearce
• Cassadee Pope
• Charlie Worsham
• Chase Rice
• Dustin Lynch
• Faith Hill
• Grace Potter
• Hailey Whitters
• Jimmie Allen
• Jon Pardi
• Kelsea Ballerini
• Kenny Chesney
• Kip Moore
• Kylie Morgan
• Lori McKenna
• Matt Quinn
• Peyton Manning (cameo)
• Rita Wilson
• Russell Dickerson
• Ryan Tannehill (cameo)
• Sam Williams
• Scotty McCreery
• Sheryl Crow
• Shy Carter
• Sloan Woolly
• Solomon Thomas (cameo)
• The Warren Brothers & Lance Miller
• Tenille Townes
• Tim McGraw
• Tucker Beathard