Michael W. Smith, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Charlie Daniels at Freedom Concert

Sean Hannity's Freedom Concerts are scheduled for this August, and Michael W. Smith and Charlie Daniels are on the bill again, with Lynyrd Skynyrd joining the production.

All net proceeds (after musical talent, production, promotion and venue expenses) from ticket sales are donated to the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund, which provide for the education of children of U.S. service members who have been killed or 100% permanently disabled in an operational mission or training accident.

The shows take place in New Jersey, Ohio, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, Nevada and California.

Learn more here.

Lynyrd Skynyrd's Billy Powell dies

Billy Powell died this morning from a heart ailment.

Powell, keyboardist for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group Lynyrd Skynyrd, was seriously injured in the Oct. 20, 1977 plane crash that killed Lynyrd Skynyrd singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and others.

During the band's hiatus in the 80s, Powell briefly joined a Christian rock band named Vision and spoke during the concerts about his newly found faith in Jesus Christ.

Guitarist Gary Rossington's wife, Dale, said in the Florida Times Union that the band members had long been worried about Powell's health, adding, "But he had such a big huge heart of gold, such a huge abiding faith in God and his savior Jesus."