ENTERTAINMENT

Charles Esten leads 'Light the Night' walk for LLS

Dave Paulson
USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee
Charles Esten with his daughter, Addie.

This Friday, Charles Esten will once again shine a light on those affected by leukemia and lymphoma.

The star of ABC's "Nashville" is the National Honorary Chair for the annual "Light the Night Walk," an nationwide fundraising event for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Esten and his family will take part in the Middle Tennessee chapter's walk, which starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Nissan Stadium.

At press time, Esten's fundraising team, "Team Addie," had raised nearly $30,000 for the organization, The team is named for Esten's 15-year-old daughter, Addie, who was diagnosed with leukemia when she was 2 1/2 years old. She has since made a full recovery.

"When we first heard that diagnosis, you feel extremely alone," Esten recalled in an interview for LLS. "...I can't help but contrast that to what it feels like to stand or to walk across a bridge at night with 6,000 people, carrying lights: whites for survivors, red for supporters and gold in memory of those who have passed. I know it's the (society's) hope that every year, there are fewer and fewer of those gold lanterns."

To register for the Middle Tennessee Light the Night Walk, visit pages.lightthenight.org/tn/MidTN15

Friday's fundraising efforts won't end there. After the walk, Esten will play his third annual "Light the Late Night" benefit concert at 3rd & Lindsley. Special guests include "Nashville" castmates Chris Carmack, Jonathan Jackson and Lennon &Maisy, along with Sixwire, Kennedy Noel, Jill & Kate and The Stellas. The concert starts at 10 p.m., and tickets are $50.

In other Esten news, he's just been announced as a special guest for Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale's "Buddy & Jim" live radio show/concert at City Winery on Saturday, November 14.

"I've been working with (Esten) for about four years now, he's the real thing," Miller told The Tennessean. "He has the passion of a musician with a heart of gold. I'm thrilled he'll be joining Jim and I onstage at City Winery."