Weeks of performing and supporting flood relief efforts caught up to this country icon.
After the devastating Texas floods that claimed over 100 lives, the country music community came together in a big way. From sold-out benefit concerts to generous donations, artists like George Strait, Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum all used their star power to raise millions for victims of the disaster.
One artist leading the charge? Texas native and country icon Robert Earl Keen, who spent weeks rallying support for his home state — even if it meant pushing himself to the brink.
Born and raised in Houston, Keen has long been a fixture in the Texas music scene. But over the past month, his presence went far beyond the stage.
Keen joined a growing list of country artists working around the clock to support relief efforts following the floods. From organizing charity performances to raising awareness on social media, the singer-songwriter was everywhere.
“Since July 5th, Robert Earl Keen, on the heels of the tragic events of July 4th, has worked day and night to continue to bring his music to the dedicated fans on tour.”
As Labor Day weekend approached, Keen was gearing up for REK’s Homecoming Weekend — a special series of shows in Helotes, Texas.
Right as fans were gearing up for the weekend, news broke that Keen would be sitting out one of the performances.
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“Unfortunately, he will not be able to perform this evening. Tonight is meant to be a celebration of music, and they will continue to make this a great evening for everyone here.”
Keen tapped Silverada and American Aquarium to fill in, ensuring the crowd still had a night to remember.
However, the brief hiatus wasn’t permanent. Keen’s reps emphasized that the artist was simply taking the night off to rest and regroup.
“Robert always wants to ensure he can give the best to his fans, and plans to be back tomorrow for the next 2 days. Thank you for your understanding and he looks forward to sharing the rest of the weekend with you.”
Keeping true to his word, Keen returned to the stage just 24 hours later.
“I sure hated to miss last night’s outdoor set, but I’m ready to be back better than ever. Can’t wait to see y’all tonight and Songs & Stories and tomorrow Fan Appreciation Day – let’s make some memories together.”