Country Crooner Lending a Hand

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

18 Sep 2008 04:45 PM

Honestly, I probably would have skipped right over this next story had it not been for the fact that my 92-year-old stroke victim grandmother was placed in an assisted living facility last year. Touring senior care facilities trying to find just the right place for your loved ones gives you new respect for the whole nursing facility industry.

It made me wonder if award-winning country singer Martina McBride ever had to find a facility to place one of her family members in. After all, it's not everyday that a celebrity volunteers to assist aging members of the music industry by backing a $95 million senior living community.

When it is complete The Crescendo will be a community of 180 independent living condos located south of Nashville. It will also include a nursing care facility that will feature a recording studio and a performance hall designed specifically for aging musicians.

"Residents can still contribute music, make music, record music and perform music here and that's very unique," McBride told reporters. "The music industry is such a special industry and I think it's really important for people who transition into assisted living or independent living to be able to have people around them that have a point of reference."

The 42-year-old country crooner says that she was inspired to lend her support to the project because she feels that it is her responsibility to "take care of our own."

Units in the complex, which is expected to open in 2013, will reportedly cost between $300,000 and the low $600,000s, but McBride says financial assistance will be available for anyone in the music industry who may need it.

"It won't be just the exclusive, top-tier people in the music industry who can afford to live here," McBride says. "Everyone that contributed to the industry can live here."

McBride then joked that once she retired (in about 40 years) she and pal Faith Hill would be joining residents poolside at The Crescendo.

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger