Jewel Partners With ACM Lifting Lives® To Raise Awareness Of Child Hunger In The U.S. During Special Moment On The 48th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards Sunday, April 7 On CBS Television Network

ENCINO, Calif., April 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Academy of Country Music announced today that Jewel will partner with ACM Lifting Lives® to perform a live mash-up of her chart-topping hit "Hands" combined with "Fill a Heart," an original song written by singer-songwriter Tori Kelly. This special musical moment, presented by ConAgra Foods' Child Hunger Ends Here campaign, will be performed at the 48^th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, to be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 8:00PM, live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. Kelly, who wrote "Fill a Heart" for the Child Hunger Ends Here campaign to bring the story of hunger to life, will introduce the powerful 2013 ACM Lifting Lives moment with Jewel to viewers. This year's ACM Lifting Lives show moment with Jewel marks the fifth consecutive year of moving performances, which have highlighted worthy causes and provided support on behalf of their beneficiaries during the live Awards telecast.

Jewel experienced significant hardship in her early years prior to embarking on a successful career as a singer-songwriter and selling over 27 million albums worldwide. Without a place to call home, there were times when she wasn't sure where she would spend the night or find her next meal. This experience provided the inspiration for her hit song "Hands," a song about desperate times and not losing hope. 

"I'm so honored to perform this year's ACM Lifting Lives moment and support ConAgra Foods' Child Hunger Ends Here campaign. It's an important cause I hold near and dear to my heart, and this is a wonderful way to give back and raise awareness. Tori wrote such a beautiful song, and I hope it serves as a wakeup call to everyone about how widespread a problem this is in the United States," said Jewel.

"The Academy has been dedicated to improving lives through the power of music for forty years, and this is the fifth year we've included an ACM Lifting Lives moment in the ACM Awards. We are proud to partner once again with ConAgra Foods to bring together a memorable performance to viewers at home, and remind them about some serious issues that Americans face on a daily basis," said Hannah Martin, Manager, ACM Lifting Lives. "It's an honor to have Jewel and Tori contribute their talents to this cause, and to help raise awareness for the nearly 17 million children who live in food insecure homes today."

ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy, is spotlighting the need to end child hunger in conjunction with ConAgra Foods, which in partnership with the ConAgra Foods Foundation has been fighting to end child hunger in America for 20 years. To participate in ConAgra's Child Hunger Ends Here program, consumers can purchase specially-marked packages of select ConAgra Foods brands, including Banquet®, Hunt's®, Marie Callender's®, PAM®, Chef Boyardee®, Orville Redenbacher's®, Manwich®, Snack Pack®, or Peter Pan® Peanut Butter, and then visit www.ChildHungerEndsHere.com to enter the eight-digit code found on participating product packages. For each code entered through August 2013, ConAgra Foods will donate the monetary equivalent of one meal* to Feeding America. Consumers can also download their favorite version of Tori Kelly's "Fill a Heart" from Cody Simpson and Amber Riley on the website to share with others and inspire action for the cause.

"Child hunger is a problem we cannot ignore," said Chris Sinta, Director of Consumer Promotions at ConAgra Foods. "We're excited to continue our partnership with the Academy of Country Music and we're honored to have Jewel sing 'Fill a Heart.' Together, we can help make a difference."

For more information on how to join the fight against child hunger and how to participate in the ConAgra Foods' Child Hunger Ends Here campaign, please visit www.childhungerendshere.com.

* For every code entered by 8/31/13, ConAgra Foods will donate 12.5¢, the cost for Feeding America to provide one meal through its network of local food banks. Maximum: 3 million meals. Guaranteed minimum donation: 1 million meals ($125,000). Limit 5 code entries per person/computer each day. Valid in U.S. only. To enter codes and learn more, visit www.childhungerendshere.com.

About Jewel

Jewel is an acclaimed American singer, songwriter, actress, poet, painter, philanthropist and daughter to an Alaskan cowboy singer-songwriter. From the remote ranch of her Alaskan youth to the triumph of international stardom, the three-time GRAMMY nominee, hailed by the New York Times as a "songwriter bursting with talents" has enjoyed career longevity rare among her generation of artists. Whether alone with her guitar or fronting a band of ace musicians, Jewel has always been a charismatic live performer, earning the respect of other singer-songwriters such as Merle Haggard, Bob Dylan and Neil Young, who, not only invited her to open their shows, but mentored her in the early phases of her career.

After a tremendous amount of success as a singer-songwriter and over 27 million albums sold, in 2013 Jewel released a Greatest Hits album. The album features a collection of her most known songs as well as two new duets with Kelly Clarkson and The Pistol Annies, in addition to a new track called "Two Hearts Breaking." She will also star as June Carter Cash in the Lifetime Original Movie "Ring of Fire," based on June's life, which will make its world premiere on Lifetime on Monday, May 27 at 8:00pm ET/PT.

Jewel currently lives on a working ranch in Stephenville, Texas with her husband, World Champion bull-riding superstar, Ty Murray and their baby Kase Townes Murray.

About Tori Kelly

Tori Kelly is a 20 year-old singer/songwriter/producer from Southern California. She self-released Handmade Songs by Tori Kelly last May, a collection of songs that perfectly blend the accessibility of the girl next door with the depth and skill of a world class artist. Tori started singing at age three and then picked up drums, piano and guitar shortly thereafter. She credits Michael Jackson, Jeff Buckley, John Mayer, Jill Scott, and gospel artists such as Crystal Lewis and J. Moss as her musical influences, which are reflected in her soulful pop/rock blend. It is her clear and uncompromising vision for her craft and career that has helped her build a YouTube channel that has garnered over 35,000,000 views and a following that spans the globe. The new "it girl" of music, Tori has generated a buzz not seen in years from a female singer/songwriter. When she stands on stage she gives new meaning to "a girl and her guitar." In a world where so much music has become overproduced and complex, Tori is a purist...her unique vocal runs and the purity of her tone are impossible to ignore. 

About the Academy of Country Music Awards

The 48^th Academy of Country Music Awards is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry.  The show is produced for television by dick clark productions and will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.  Allen Shapiro, Orly Adelson and R.A. Clark are executive producers.  Barry Adelman is producer, and Bob Bardo is the executive in charge of production. Bob Romeo is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music.  For more information, please visit www.acmcountry.com.

About ACM Lifting Lives

ACM Lifting Lives is the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music dedicated to improving lives through the power of music.  Each year, ACM Lifting Lives® provides grants to music therapy and music education programs.  Other giving includes serving members of the country music community who face unexpected medical or financial hardship through the Diane Holcomb Emergency Relief Fund and partnering with artists to improve lives through music.  Downloads and direct donations of Toby Keith's performance on the 45^th annual telecast, Darius Rucker's performance on the 46^th annual telecast and Little Big Town's performance on the 47^th annual telecast raised funds and awareness for Stand Up To Cancer, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center and ConAgra Foods' Child Hunger Ends Here campaign respectively.  For more information, please visit www.ACMLiftingLives.org.

About ConAgra Foods

ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG), is one of North America's largest packaged food companies. Its balanced portfolio includes consumer brands found in 97 percent of America's households, the largest private brand packaged food business in North America, and a strong commercial and foodservice business. Consumers can find recognized brands such as Banquet®, Chef Boyardee®, Egg Beaters®, Healthy Choice®, Hebrew National®, Hunt's®, Marie Callender's®, Orville Redenbacher's® popcorn, PAM®, Peter Pan®, Reddi-wip®, Slim Jim® beef jerky, Snack Pack® and many other ConAgra Foods brands, plus food sold under private brand labels, in grocery, convenience, mass merchandise, club stores and drugstores. ConAgra Foods also has a strong commercial foods presence, supplying frozen potato and sweet potato products as well as other vegetable, spice, bakery and grain products to a variety of well-known restaurants, foodservice operators and commercial customers. ConAgra Foods operates ReadySetEat.com, an interactive recipe website that provides consumers with dinner ideas and more. For more information, please visit us at www.conagrafoods.com.

SOURCE The Academy of Country Music