The 'We Are The World' Of Country?

07/10/1998 7:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

(7/10/98) - "One Heart At A Time," the all-star country single benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, features such heavy-hitters as Garth Brooks, Bryan White, Faith Hill, Neal McCoy and Billy Dean, as well as the Doobie Brothers' Michael McDonald and Olivia Newton-John.

Songwriter Victoria Shaw, who penned the tune, is donating 100% of her royalties to CFF. "We appreciate that this song will be the next 'We Are The World,'" says Robert J. Beall, president/ CEO of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. "This wonderful song represents how extraordinary things can happen when dedicated people put their heart and soul behind a cause to help individuals that they may never even meet."

While the intentions behind the song are certainly noble, it has yet to live up the success of "We Are The World." That 1985 single, recorded by the all-star collective known as USA For Africa, spent four weeks on top of Billboard's Hot 100 and has sold more than 7.3 million copies.

"One Heart At A Time," by comparison, has sold more than 200,000 copies so far. It's currently No. 8 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles Sales chart, after peaking at No. 5. On the Hot 100, the song sits at No. 69, after peaking at No. 56.

However, supporters are hopeful that the song will snag a nomination for the Country Music Association Awards in the Vocal Event Of The Year category. "A win would boost exposure for Cystic Fibrosis and the need for a cure. We are so very close right now," says Shaw. "Money buys science, science buys life."