BRELAND delivered an evening full of unforgettable surprises, heartfelt moments, first-ever performances and more at the 5th annual BRELAND & Friends show. The fundraising event returned on Wednesday evening (April 8) to this historic Ryman Auditorium stage in downtown Nashville, Tennessee.

BRELAND, 30, continued his tradition of the star-studded show with Ashley Cooke, Dasha, Kameron Marlowe, Conner Smith, Durand Bernarr, K. Michelle, Kaitlin Butts, Pink Sweat$ and Walker Hayes in the powerhouse lineup. He added Austin Mahone, Lanie Gardner, HARDY and Tony Evans Jr. in the days leading up to the 5th annual show, plus surprise special appearances by Lauren Alaina and his parents, who joined their son for a moving performance of “Total Praise.”

The family’s powerful performance of the gospel classic, which brought a tear to BRELAND’s eye, earned a standing ovation from the Ryman audience. The set list included a few debut performances — including Smith’s “Never Be Gone,” which releases Friday (April 10), and “In the Woulds,” BRELAND’s duet with Alaina that released in May 2020 — plus other fan-favorites and covers of irresistible hits. Dasha and BRELAND teamed up on a rendition of Shania Twain’s “You’re Still the One,” for example. Cooke serenaded an audience member with “baby blues,” Hayes took the stage with his 2022 mega-hit, “Fancy Like,” and BRELAND performed his newest single, interpolating 50 Cent’s iconic early 2000s anthem, “In da Club,” (BRELAND got approval from 50 Cent and Dr. Dre, a near-impossible effort, to make it happen. He switched gears and released a cover of a timeless Disney ballad the following week). BRELAND closed the show with his breakout single, “My Truck,” and 2022’s “Praise the Lord.”

BRELAND launched his annual fundraising event to support the Oasis Center, a nonprofit organization offering a range of programs to help local youth and their families in Nashville, Tennessee. Oasis Center’s President and CEO, Dr. LaRhonda S.D. Magras, spoke about the organization after BRELAND shared one man’s personal story. To date, BRELAND & Friends has raised more than $600K for the Oasis Center over the course of five years.

“I'm a Christian man...and for me, it looks like being able to love your neighbors and being able to take care of people that need it,” BRELAND said during a recent interview with iHeartCountry. “This BRELAND & Friends show is really kind of an expression of that for me to be able to try to make a tangible difference in the community. …It's really a blessing because all of these artists who come out to perform, all of the proceeds from this show go toward the organization. None of the guests who come out are getting paid. We've had a lot of really big stars that have come out, and we've got some big stars that are coming out this year. And it just goes to show the heart of some of these country artists, and people outside of the genre as well.

“So much of what I do in this industry is built on relationships, whether it's opening for artists or writing songs for artists or being able to get artists on my songs, and all of that pales in comparison to being able to share a stage with an artist for a cause that we believe in. So, I think it's my Magnum Opus,” BRELAND continued of the “one-of-a-kind” benefit show, which he hopes will continue to grow over the years. “It's my greatest offering that I can do on a yearly basis. And hopefully we're doing BRELAND & Friends 20 in 15 years, and BRELAND & Friends 40, and that we can bring out even more artists and maybe we graduate from the Ryman to Bridgestone Arena or Nissan [Stadium] or something like that, and we bring out artists from around the world. I could see it getting even bigger and bigger, and making a bigger impact here in the community. And I'm ambitious, so I'm always thinking about what could be possible and how we can try to position ourselves for it. But at the same time, in the present moment, it's just such a blessing to me. …There is something really special about BRELAND & Friends.”

Relive the evening in photos below.

Bob Delmont