Robert Earl Keen pledges tour proceeds, benefit concert for Kerr County flood relief

Texas music legend Robert Earl Keen announced he will donate 100% of merchandise sales from his current tour to flood relief efforts and is planning a benefit concert to help his hometown recover from the catastrophic flooding that killed 43 people.

Keen was scheduled to headline the “Fourth on the River” celebration that was cancelled when historic flooding devastated Kerrville and surrounding areas Friday morning. The disaster has left more than 20 children from Camp Mystic missing and dozens more people unaccounted for across the Hill Country.

“The Texas Hill Country and namely my hometown of Kerrville, Texas, has been crippled by unprecedented flooding on the 4th of July,” Keen said in a statement released Saturday. “This has resulted in devastation across the area, and there are still many missing from the event, including campers from Camp Mystic, which holds a special place in mine and my family’s hearts.”

The singer-songwriter revealed that both of his daughters attended summer camp at Camp Mystic, adding personal significance to his response to the disaster that has devastated the recreational facility where more than 20 girls remain missing.

“As both of my daughters attended summer camp there, my thoughts and prayers go out to all of those affected and special thanks for the amazing support of the first responders from the community and all over Texas rushing to aid those in need,” Keen said.

Keen, who has called the Hill Country home for decades, announced immediate and long-term support for the community. He is donating all merchandise sales from his current tour to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country and is working on organizing a benefit concert with details to follow.

“I will be working on a benefit to support the community and more details to follow as soon as we know them,” Keen said. “In the meantime, please support those in need via the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country.”

The Americana music star specifically directed fans to donate through the Community Foundation, which has established the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund to support recovery efforts. He provided a direct link for donations and emphasized the urgency of getting aid to those in need as quickly as possible.

“I will be donating 100% of the merchandise sales from our current tour to the community foundation as well,” Keen said. “My sincerest prayers and condolences to all those involved in this tragedy and please stay tuned as I work in partnership with the community to continue to support those in need.”

Keen’s announcement comes as the entertainment industry and broader Texas community rallies around Kerr County following Friday’s historic flood that sent the Guadalupe River to 147,000 cubic feet per second — the second-highest level on record.

The flood devastated the very festival grounds where Keen was supposed to perform, with Louise Hays Park completely submerged and the stage for the “Fourth on the River” celebration swept downstream in a crumpled mass caught by trees.

Keen joins a growing list of organizations and individuals mobilizing relief efforts. The Kerrville Area Chamber of Commerce launched a business rebuilding fund, while major corporations including AT&T and T-Mobile are providing free services and emergency communications equipment.

The Uvalde Foundation for Kids has also launched an emergency fundraising campaign and is seeking volunteers to assist in search efforts for missing Camp Mystic campers.

President Donald Trump has committed “all resources of the federal government” to help find the missing and support recovery efforts. Federal assets including Coast Guard aircraft with thermal imaging capabilities are assisting in 24-hour search operations.

Keen’s deep roots in the Hill Country music scene and his personal connection to Camp Mystic through his daughters make his response particularly meaningful for a community grappling with unprecedented loss.

The disaster has claimed the lives of 43 people, including 15 children, with hundreds of first responders searching a 30-mile stretch of the Guadalupe River for survivors and victims. Many of those missing were visitors who came to the area for Fourth of July weekend activities at camps and recreational facilities along the river.

Officials continue daily press briefings at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. as search operations continue around the clock. A missing person’s call center operates at 830-258-1111 for families seeking information about loved ones.

Keen’s benefit concert announcement represents hope for a community known for its vibrant music scene and outdoor recreation industry, both of which were devastated by the flood. Details about the benefit concert are expected to be announced as the immediate search and rescue operations continue.