There are just some things that country artists do better than any other music artist does, and that’s their ability to donate to causes and things that truly matter in the world.  For as out of this world his persona gets at times, John Rich has a serious soft-spot for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN and while it’s one of country music’s ‘pet charities,’ it is that for good reason.  The hospital doesn’t turn any sick child away, regardless of their ability to pay for treatment or not. John Rich has spent this spring on Celebirty Apprentice and during this show he has won nearly $750,000 dollars for St. Jude’s and now he’s continuing to support the hospital with his SixPak For The Kids.  This SixPak collection is paying tribute to the friends and familes and kids of St. Jude’s that have inspired him from his very first day visitng there.

For The Kids kicks off with the title tune and it immediately sets the tone for this sweet and heartfelt collection of songs.  “Thank God For Kids” is one of the better songs John Rich has ever written with heart and showcasing how much joy that children bring to us and how they’re about as close to pure and heavenly as we can get on earth.  “Where Angels Hang Around” is a CCM-ish ballad about a man who discusses taking his child to the only place he knows can handle that one big word that changed the family’s life forever. It’s a powerful song.

Fans of Martina McBride will recognize “She’s A Butterfly” and fans of Wynonna will remember “Rescue Me.” The former was on the Martina album while the latter – written by the late Katie Darnell – was on Wynonna’s What The World Needs Now Is Love album from 2003.  In fact, I think “She’s A Butterfly” was inspired by Katie as well.  Either way you slice it, both songs are inspirational as every track on this SixPak (including “Simplify”) turn out to be as well.

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