Amazon Music and Musicians on Call Bring Country to the Bedside

Amazon Music and Musicians on Call have teamed up for Country Music Month, bringing a virtual concert series to patients, families and caregivers during the month of October.

The series features performances from Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey and STELLA LEFTY, Amazon Music’s newest Breakthrough artist, streamed directly into healthcare facilities nationwide.

The first concert has already reached more than 200 hospitals via CCTV systems and playrooms, and two more are on deck this month. LEFTY also performed in person, visiting The Children’s Hospital at TriStar Centennial in Nashville and going room to room to play for patients.

We spoke with MOC President/CEO Pete Griffin and Amazon Music Global Head of Country Music Michelle Tigard Kammerer about the program.

How does the virtual concert series fit into MOC’s mission, and what makes country music such a good fit for it?

Griffin: For more than 25 years, Musicians on Call has believed that music is a vital part of the healing process. It can ease anxiety, lift spirits and remind patients that they’re more than their diagnosis. Our work with Amazon Music lets us bring that experience to more patients than ever before. Through this virtual concert series, we’re reaching patients, families and caregivers in hospitals across the country, many of whom can’t leave their rooms or their floors.

Country music is a natural fit. At its heart, country is about storytelling, about family, resilience, hope and getting through hard times. Those are the stories patients and their families are living every day. There’s a warmth and sense of connection in country music that makes a hospital room feel a little more like home, and that’s exactly what we hope to create.

What has the response been like so far, especially after STELLA LEFTY’s hospital performance?

Griffin: The response has been incredible. We’ve already shared our first virtual concert with more than 200 hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide, bringing country music directly to patients and families through hospital CCTV systems and playrooms. We also sent Country Music Month swag to participating facilities so patients, families and staff could celebrate together alongside the concert.

We’ve heard wonderful feedback from groups including Phoenix Children’s, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, the Phoenix VA, Seattle Children’s, Mount Sinai Morningside in New York City, Dell Children’s and many more.

Being at The Children’s Hospital at TriStar Centennial with STELLA was a powerful reminder of why this work matters. STELLA is one of the most exciting new voices in music right now, and the excitement in the hospital was unbelievable. Patients, families and even staff were thrilled to meet her. Hearing her sing “Boston” right at their bedside was a moment they won’t forget. STELLA went room to room, even gowning up to perform for kids who couldn’t leave their rooms. We saw patients light up, parents pulling out their phones to capture the moment and nurses at the station singing and cheering along. Those moments show what live music can do in a hospital: for a few minutes, everyone gets to just be a kid, a parent or a fan again. We’re excited to share two more concerts this month.

How does this partnership, and the focus on Nashville-area hospitals, represent an evolution for MOC?

Griffin: Our roots are in bedside performances: volunteer musicians going room to room, playing for one patient at a time. That one-on-one connection will always be at the core of what we do. Our work with Amazon Music shows how we can extend that experience in new ways. By pairing live, in-person performances at hospitals like The Children’s Hospital at TriStar Centennial with virtual concerts that reach facilities nationwide, a single performance can now touch thousands of patients, families and caregivers in hundreds of hospitals at once.

Nashville is Music City, and it’s home to an extraordinary community of artists who want to give back. Working with Amazon Music lets us connect that talent directly with patients, both in our own backyard and across the country. It’s an exciting step forward in how we bring the healing power of music to the people who need it most.

What inspired Amazon Music to work with Musicians on Call for Country Music Month?

Kammerer: Country Music Month gives us an opportunity to celebrate the breadth of this community and think about how we can contribute to it. Alongside new music, performances and programming, we wanted giving back to be a meaningful part of this year’s celebration. Musicians on Call gave us a way to bring the artists and music we champion into a setting where they could make someone’s day a little brighter.

Our country team works closely with artists at every stage of their careers, from emerging voices in our Breakthrough program to established stars. Those relationships create opportunities to do something meaningful together beyond a release or a concert. This initiative reflects that broader commitment to showing up for the community that makes country music what it is.

Amazon Music made a charitable contribution to MOC earlier this year. How does this initiative build on that?

Kammerer: Earlier this year, Amazon Music made a charitable contribution to support Musicians on Call’s year-round work. We wanted to build on that support during Country Music Month by bringing more of what our team can offer, including our artist relationships and performance content.

The virtual concert series and STELLA LEFTY’s hospital visit gave us tangible ways to do that. For us, the financial contribution and the programming are connected: one supports the organization’s ongoing work, while the other creates additional opportunities for artists to take part. We wanted our involvement to continue beyond making a donation.

What do Miranda, Lainey, Shaboozey and STELLA each bring to the experience?

Kammerer: What I love about this lineup is that it reflects how much country music has to offer. Miranda Lambert brings an extraordinary catalog and a combination of emotional honesty and humor that has connected with fans for years. Lainey Wilson has such a commanding presence and an infectious energy that comes through in her performances. Shaboozey brings a fresh perspective, drawing on country, hip-hop and other influences in a way that welcomes a wide range of listeners.

STELLA LEFTY, our newest Breakthrough artist, brings the excitement of discovering someone new. Introducing audiences to emerging talent is a big part of our work, and we’re proud to include her alongside these established artists. Together, they offer familiar favorites and new discoveries, with different sounds and personalities that patients and caregivers can enjoy.

What was it like seeing STELLA perform for patients in person, and how does that complement the virtual series?

Kammerer: It was one of the most moving experiences I’ve had in my time working in country music. What stayed with me was the care STELLA brought to each interaction. She made the performances feel personal, and seeing that side of her at The Children’s Hospital at TriStar Centennial gave me an even greater appreciation for the person behind the music.

Through Breakthrough, we get to help introduce an artist to new audiences and support important moments in their career. This was meaningful in a different way: seeing Stella use her talent to do something kind for someone else. It made me proud to have her involved in Country Music Month.

Her visit also gave us a chance to see up close why this work matters. The virtual series allows us to share performances more widely, while the hospital visit brought a personal dimension to our involvement. Experiencing that firsthand made our support for Musicians on Call feel especially tangible.