Fort Worth’s Leon Bridges and one his famous friends helped raised money for Tarrant County area nonprofits on Thursday evening.
The “Coming Home” singer and songwriter was joined by Kacey Musgraves at the River Ranch Stockyards for The Big Night, the key fundraiser for Bridges and former TCU coach Gary Patterson’s The Big Good.
Since 2020, the nonprofit has raised nearly $5 million to support local organizations focused on addressing critical unmet needs in the community.
This year’s event raised money for UpSpire, an employment program; Tarrant Area Food Bank; United Community Centers, focusing on food and literacy; and Tarrant To & Through Partnership, which steers students toward college or careers.
“Thank y’all for being here, for making everything possible,” Bridges told the crowd of hundreds.
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The Big Good’s Big Night
Now in its sixth year, Patterson said The Big Good keeps on growing thanks to Bridges.
Patterson has been in the nonprofit space for more than 20 years now, after founding his namesake foundation in 2002. The mission of helping Fort Worthians is something shared by both men, who have such strong ties to the area.
“It takes a village to make a difference in a community,” Patterson told the Star-Telegram. “It’s really starting to come to fruition.”
Abraham Alexander has been involved with The Big Good for a few years now, even performing at the first Big Night back in 2021.
The Fort Worth singer, and Academy Award nominee, has been friends with Bridges for more than a decade and said the organization’s goals hits close to home.
“I was the kid that didn’t have food to eat,” Alexander told the Star-Telegram. “People saw me. Seeing someone at times can be so difficult.”
When someone has the ability to see someone, and meet them where they’re at, Alexander said that’s how a difference is made.
“That’s how we truly change the city that we live in,” Alexander said. “Or, put our money where our mouth is.”
Musician Leon Bridges and former TCU head football coach Gary Patterson are photographed at The Big Good’s charity fundraiser, The Big Night, at the River Ranch Stockyards in Fort Worth on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
Kacey Musgraves plays the Big Night
Thursday’s festivities kicked off around 7 p.m. with a performance by Alexander, followed by a welcome from Bridges and Patterson.
It was during this time that Bridges mentioned that he’s working on a new album, which he called his “best work yet.” No release date has been set for the project, Bridges added.
Musgraves took the stage after 9 p.m. and performed with the Fort Worth singer.
The event came just over three weeks before Musgraves’ new album “Middle of Nowhere” releases on May 1. She joins a list of Big Night musical guests with ties to Bridges, such as Charley Crockett and Maggie Rogers.
“To be able to have somebody of her stature come here and be a part of this evening only raises the level of what we’re trying to accomplish,” Patterson said.