July 31, 2000 – The title of Billy Ray Cyrus's debut Monument Records album Southern Rain took on new meaning when the star – long known for helping people in need – delivered a tractor-trailer load of bottled water to a parched town.

During a recent satellite radio tour, KEAN-FM/Abilene afternoon air personality Jim West informed Billy Ray about the horrific drought conditions plaguing the small town of Throckmorton, Texas.

The town is literally out of drinking water; lakes, rivers, wells and streams are bone dry. A pipeline is currently being laid to deliver fresh water to the town of just over 1,000 residents, but completion is at least six weeks away.

Billy Ray couldn't get the situation out of his mind, so he decided the best thing would be to give them exactly what they needed – water. He arranged to purchase a semi-truck load of bottled water and had it sent to KEAN radio, so the staffers could deliver the water to the residents of Throckmorton. The gesture inspired a local bank to donate $1,000.00 for the cause, and the local Lowe's home improvement store donated over $3,000.00 in tools and equipment for the pipeline construction.

Billy Ray's new single "You Won't Be Lonely Now" was the most-added single when it hit the airwaves two weeks ago. Southern Rain will hit stores mid-October.