LEXINGTON, Ky. — A western Kentucky teen will have a Christmas to remember, making a guest appearance on the CMA Country Christmas TV special. Madison Ramage will combine her love for country music and Shriners Children’s Hospital by performing an original song about her experience as a Shriners patient.
The 16-year-old said she has always loved music from a young age.
“I’ve been singing since I could talk, it’s always been a thing,” Ramage said.
In front of a nationwide audience, Ramage will take her talents to the national stage; performing an original song for a CMA award-winning artist on CMA Country Christmas in Nashville.
“She wrote the chords, she wrote the music, everything to it and it’s all about her Shriners journey,” said Madison’s mom, Jenny Ramage.
Madison began going to Shriners Children’s Hospital in Lexington at 9 years old to receive orthopedic surgery on for having an extra bone in the middle of her feet.
“An accessory navicular is a common foot condition that happens in kids around the adolescent age range. Our hospital probably sees somewhere around 10-15 patients a year with this condition,” said Dr. Ryan Muchow, Ramage’s doctor at Shriners.
The disorder can make running, sports or even just standing painful. It kept Ramage from her love of softball.
“I couldn’t stay in innings, I had to sit out every other inning,” Ramage said.
After her surgeries, Madison could not be on her feet for 30 days.
“I was down, and I couldn’t go outside and do all the things I loved to do outside, so I picked up the guitar,” Ramage said.
Now, she’s back on her feet, playing softball and performing.
“I’ve thought about going to college for music and my dream is to sing the Grand Ole Opry and hopefully write more songs and produce an album,” Ramage said.
Ramage is a Shriners Ambassador and hopes someone in need of care hears her song and inspires them to learn more information about Shriners Children’s Hospital network.
Ramage says some of her influences are Reba McEntire, Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash and Lainey Wilson.
CMA Country Christmas airs Thursday, Dec. 14 at 8 p.m. eastern/7 p.m. central.