Help Support Holly & Joe Brantley in Their Time of Need
Our dear friends Holly and Joe Brantley have spent years behind the scenes supporting the music community we all love — and now they need our help.
Holly’s Battle with Cancer
Holly Shields Brantley, 49, lives in Bunn, NC with her husband Joe and their 6-year-old grandson, Kevin. A full-time employee at the local Food Lion, Holly is the proud mother of two, Kayla and Gavin. Recently, Holly was diagnosed with two forms of breast cancer:
• Ductal carcinoma in situ
• Invasive ductal carcinoma, Grade 3 (high-grade)
Due to the aggressive nature of her cancer, she faces a difficult treatment journey ahead. Holly will soon undergo a lumpectomy, during which doctors will remove cancerous tissue, calcium deposits, and several lymph nodes to check for spreading. Unfortunately, she faces a 25% chance of unclear surgical margins — significantly higher than the average — which may require additional surgery or chemotherapy if margins aren’t clear.
Following surgery, Holly will endure 60 consecutive days of radiation treatment. During this time, she won’t be allowed physical contact with others due to the radioactivity, further complicating family life and daily responsibilities. A month after radiation, she’ll undergo follow-up surgery to reassess her condition and determine the next course of action.
Joe’s Health Challenges
While caring for Holly, Joe is facing his own serious health challenges. He suffers from Stage 3 COPD, heart issues, and has endured severe shoulder problems for over 15 years. On top of this, Joe helps care for their 6-year-old grandson, Kevin, and assists with both his mother and Holly’s father.
The Financial Strain
With Holly expected to be out of work for at least two months — possibly much longer depending on her treatment — and Joe unable to work due to his own health issues, their financial situation is incredibly fragile. Expenses are piling up quickly:
• Medical bills and treatments
• Travel, gas, and vehicle maintenance for daily appointments
• Childcare and household responsibilities
• General living expenses during lost wages
• Ongoing caregiving for their extended family
A Lifetime of Giving
For those who may not know, Holly and Joe have long been fixtures in the bluegrass and music festival world, supporting countless artists and working tirelessly behind the scenes for decades. Since first working with Steep Canyon Rangers in 2002 (after meeting at a wedding!), they’ve dedicated their time, hearts, and energy to nearly 200 shows, and numerous festivals including Willow Oak Bluegrass Festival, Preddyfest, Lil John’s Music Festival, and Mountain Song Festival.
Over the years, they’ve worked with and supported an incredible list of artists, including:
Steep Canyon Rangers w/ Steve Martin, Del McCoury, James King, Ralph Stanley, Balsam Range, Tim O’Brien, David Grisman, Doyle Lawson, Tony Rice, JD Crowe, Ronnie Bowman, Jerry Douglas, Dan Tyminski, Doc Watson, and many, many more.
They’ve always been there for the music community. Now it’s our turn to be there for them.
Please consider donating to help Holly and Joe through this incredibly difficult season. Every dollar will go toward medical expenses, daily living costs, travel, and anything they need to make this fight just a little easier.
From the bottom of our hearts — thank you for your support, prayers, and love.
