A guitar in hand and a heart the size of Texas. That’s Josh Weathers right now. While storms swallowed up gigs and highways across Central Texas, this Fort Worth native didn’t just sit around waiting for the floodwaters to recede. Instead, he turned a canceled show into a lifeline for families who’ve lost everything.
Originally set to play the iconic Gruene Hall on July 5th, Weathers’ show was called off when relentless rainstorms unleashed catastrophic floods that have already taken at least 104 lives, including 84 souls in Kerr County alone. With entire communities turned upside down and dozens still missing, folks needed more than thoughts and prayers. They needed boots on the ground and cash in hand. So Josh did what any good Texan does: he called his people, grabbed his guitar, and got to work.
In less than 48 hours, this guy rallied a whole army. He lined up the stage at The Heights Church in Cleburne, pulled together pro sound and visuals, and turned Facebook into a digital honky tonk for a marathon four-hour livestream on July 7th. He didn’t just strum out a couple songs for show either. He brought his whole band along, Bubba Bellin on steel guitar, Paul Jenkins on bass, and Blaine Crews behind the drums, and together they raised the roof and a jaw-dropping $337,353.
Every dollar from that night went straight to families hit hardest by the flood. Auction items rolled in faster than the river did. Friends texted Josh mid-show, offering everything from a private house concert with Red Shahan and Seth James to Big Rich’s jumbo shrimp and gumbo for 100 guests, all going to the highest bidder. One house show alone pulled in $72,000 after two folks matched bids.
It didn’t stop there. Someone forked over $13,000 for an Argentinean dove hunt. Another big-hearted fan shelled out $9,000 for a zero-turn mower. A pair of autographed guitars signed by Post Malone, Jelly Roll, Koe Wetzel, Lainey Wilson, and more went for over $12,000. This wasn’t your average charity raffle. This was Texans stepping up for Texans in the purest way possible.
Between the big-ticket prizes, Josh and his crew tore through a set list that hit all the right chords. They slipped George Strait’s “You Look So Good in Love” between Josh’s soulful “From One Fool To Another,” plus a dreamy take on Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” and of course, his viral spin on “I Will Always Love You.” Every note was a reminder that when this state takes a hit, its people rally.
And this isn’t Josh Weathers’ first time giving back. He and his wife run Love Like You Mean It International, a non-profit that’s built schools in India and helped give kids around the world a fighting chance. They’ve even adopted six children themselves, so charity work isn’t just something Josh posts about. It’s what he lives and breathes.
Sitting back after the last chord faded, Josh admitted he almost did this whole thing on his cell phone in his living room. “My goal was $150,000, so I was thinking too small,” he said. Safe to say, thinking big is the Texas way, and Weathers delivered.
Right now, more rain’s on the way, and rescue crews are still searching for survivors. Camp Mystic is grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors. For those families who’ve lost it all, every cent raised by Josh and his community means another meal, another roof patch, another glimmer of hope.
So raise a glass for Josh Weathers, a Texas country singer who shows us that when the rivers rise and the heartbreak hits, music can still build a bridge. Sometimes a song and a giving heart are all you need to remind the Lone Star State that nobody fights alone.
