The 8th Annual ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp in Nashville closed in grand fashion last night, capped by a Chris Young performance at the Grand Ole Opry. The camp gives those with Williams syndrome the opportunity to gain music enrichment through performance and education. Earlier in the week campers had collectively written an original song, “I Love Big,” during a songwriting session with Dierks Bentley and Ross Copperman. They performed the song with Young onstage at the Opry as the camp came to an emotional close.

A day earlier, the campers recorded the track with Copperman at Black Sound Stage Studios and also were paid a visit by Black River recording artist Kelsea Ballerini, who stayed to answer questions.

The camp is a partnership between ACM Lifting Lives and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.

Above left (l-r): President/CEO Iconic Entertainment Group Fletcher Foster; ACM Lifting Lives Boardmember Copperman; Ballerini; EVP/Managing Director, Academy of Country Music Tiffany Moon; and Assistant Professor & ACM Lifting Lives Camp Director Marisa Fisher.

Above right (l-r): General Manager, Grand Ole Opry / Sr. Vice President, Programming & Artist Relations, Opry Entertainment Sally Williams; Young; Sr. Talent Manager, Grand Ole Opry Gina Keltner; ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp Founder Lorie Lytle; ACM Lifting Lives Boardmember Ricky Kelley; ACM Lifting Lives Boardmember Tree Paine; ACM Chairman of the Board Ken Tucker; Vanderbilt University Medical Center Entertainment Liaison Stuart Dill; ACM Lifting Lives Boardmember Paul Barnabee; Entertainment Industry Relations, VUMC Melita Rippy; Moon; and ACM Lifting Lives Boardmember Tommy Moore.