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Lainey Wilson shared a heartwarming moment with a group of veterans who have used arts and music for healing, and she spotlight the group during the 56th annual CMA Awards on Wednesday night (November 9).
Wilson — the reigning CMA New Artist of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year — took the stage with Richard Casper, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who is also the co-founded and executive director of CreatiVets. The program aims to “offer opportunities for relief and healing for the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country,” the nonprofit organization’s website states. CreatiVets has served veterans nationwide, using songwriting, visual arts, music and other forms of art to help veterans cope with trauma after returning home from service.
Casper explained that he joined the Marine Corps “straight out of high school” in 2003. When he returned home, he “didn’t know how to actually process” what he’d been through. “So, I just started diving into learning how to tell my own story and put it into music, and that journey through that process just completely saved my life. So, I knew I that needed to start CreatiVets so I could help other veterans tell those stories.”
Viewers of the CMA Awards saw a clip that captured Wilson visiting with a group of veterans and hearing their stories and their songs. One U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, Barbara, strummed a turquoise blue acoustic guitar as she sang with the group. Some, including U.S. Army Veteran Briana, spoke about how music has helped bring “healing and happiness again.”
“Being here today has reminded me why I get to do what I get to do,” Wilson said. She later presented Casper with a $50,000 donation from Crown Royal on the CMA Awards stage to help CreatiVets. “They shared their stories, they shared their songs with me, and that takes a very vulnerable and brave person to do that.”