Terry Morrow: Country star honors Knoxville residents on GAC show

Trace Adkins is always looking for a good hero.

On his reality show "Great American Heroes" (8 p.m. Wednesday, GAC), he found three hometown heroes from 10 of the stops on his summer 2012 tour.

The three featured tonight are in the Knoxville area — Al Cecere of the American Eagle Fund, based in Pigeon Forge; Carla Saunders, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Team at East Tennesee Children's Hospital, and Stuart Hall of the Restorative Justice with Compassion Coalition.

Adkins spotlights the work of these three and why they deserve special recognition.

The country music star created the concept for "Heroes" and pitched it to GAC. The show is produced by Knoxville's Rivr Media.

Known for his nonprofit work including USO tours and numerous benefit concerts, Adkinsbecame knowledgeable of Americans who are making a difference but ask nothing in return because of it. He wanted to tell some of their stories.

Ten cities, including Knoxville, were selected from his summer tour and residents were asked to nominate hometown heroes. Three heroes were selected (by Adkin's camp) in each town.

Arriving in each city typically one day before his scheduled concert appearance, Adkins spent time with each hero and surprised the hero with a gift that usually pertained to each nonprofit's mission. The hero was also Adkins' guest at his show the next night.

With the American Eagles, Adkins watched one fly out of a handler's hands; he held methadone-dependent newborns at Children's Hospital helped load a truck and worked with youth on cars during his visit the Restorative Justice and Compassion Coalition, GAC says.

Terry Morrow may be reached at 865-342-6445 or morrowt@knoxville.com.

© 2012, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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