National star Phillip Phillips stages a concert for Phoebe

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Albany’s hometown music hero is picking up his guitar to help support the front-line medical heroes battling COVID-19 in southwest Georgia.

Worldwide recording star and American Idol winner Phillip Phillips announced an upcoming live stream event scheduled for May 7 at 6 p.m. ET to support Phoebe Putney Health System.

Phillips, a Lee County native, who will show his Phoebe pride when appearing on a remote episode of American Idol on May 3, is passionate about supporting all the front line heroes who are working daily with patients and community members.

The singer said he, his wife and his child were all born at Phoebe in Albany.

“This is my hometown, and my wife’s hometown and all my family," Phillips said in a video chat with Phoebe staff members. “This is just our home.”

Phillips won season 11 of Idol in 2012, and his song “Home” has gone on to become the best-selling single in the show’s history.

“It’s where I grew up and where I’m raising my family, and Phoebe has been a part of this community for generations. It’s the hospital where I was born, and it’s where my son was born,” said Phillips in an interview about the event. “This is a small town in the best sense, but the town and the hospital have been hit in a big way by this crisis, so I wanted to lend a hand in the best way I know how, and that’s through music.”

In recent weeks, Phoebe has found itself in the national media spotlight as the primary medical care provider for the heavily impacted southwest Georgia region. “I don’t think anyone ever thought we’d have to battle with an outbreak like this, especially in our corner of the state,” said Phoebe President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Steiner. “But our region got hit really hard by COVID-19, and our team’s response has been nothing short of heroic. Our community has really pulled together as well, and Phillip lending a hand will be a tremendous lift and a real emotional boost for everyone who calls this place home.”

“If I could give you a hug or a high-five I would, but I’m doing this for y’all, and thank you so much," Phillips said about those health care workers on the front lines.

Viewers can tune into Phillips’s performance – and make a tax-deductible pledge in support of the Phoebe Foundation’s COVID-19 Relief Fund– via Facebook Live this Thursday.

More information about the performance, how you can help support, and Phoebe’s effort to fight COVID-19 is live now at phoebehealth.com.

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