AmesFest for Hope rocks Selma, raises money for Carmichael family

Music filled the air and the back porch of the Tally Ho was packed Saturday as friends, family, and supporters gathered for Amesfest for Hope, a benefit music festival held to support Amy and Clay Carmichael as they navigate Amy's battle with Stage 4 breast cancer. 

The event brought together musicians and music lovers from across the region for an afternoon of performances, fellowship, and fundraising. Because Amy and Clay's relationship began through a shared love of music and many of their closest friends are musicians, organizers felt a music festival was the perfect way to rally support around the couple. The event was moved from Kenan's Mill to Tally Ho due to rain.

Nine acts, most of them local performers, took the stage throughout the day. Between performances, emotions ran high when Amy read a poem she had written, leaving few dry eyes among the crowd gathered on the porch. 

The festival was organized primarily by Rick Carter and Josh Dumas, who said the day was about much more than music. 

"I could go on and on and on about the many things that made my day special," Dumas said after the event. "Amy and I share a lot of mutual friends from her hometown of Mobile and, of course, my hometown of Selma, so it was really cool to have them all in one place for Amy and Clay. The music was just the medicine Amy needed, and luckily we all got a good dose of some much-needed soul medicine." 

Dumas added that sharing the stage with fellow performers made the event even more meaningful. 

"As for me personally, to get to play on the same bill as legends like Rick Carter and Donna Hall and all the other artists that played is truly a blessing," he said. "I don't know how much money we raised, but I know it brought a lot of much-needed joy to Amy two days after losing her mom." 

Amy Carmichael said the festival surpassed all of her expectations. 

"The festival exceeded every expectation I had," she said. "My heart is so full from the love and support that was shown by our community. Every musical act was incredible, every song seemed perfectly chosen, and the entire day felt like a celebration of connection, hope, and kindness." 

She thanked the volunteers, sponsors, musicians, silent auction donors, and attendees who made the event possible. 

"After such a difficult week for my family, being surrounded by that much love was something I will never forget," Carmichael said. She also expressed gratitude to Paul Wilkerson and the staff at the Tally Ho for accommodating the event after a last-minute venue change. 

The festival had originally been scheduled for Keenan's Mill, but days of rain left the grounds wet and muddy, forcing organizers to relocate to the Tally Ho's covered back porch. 

Clay Carmichael echoed his wife's appreciation for the overwhelming community support shown throughout the day. 

While organizers had not released a final fundraising total as of Monday, all proceeds and donations were directed to the Carmichaels' GoFundMe account to help cover medical expenses and treatments not covered by insurance. 

"It's going to help with things like that," Amy said. "We're throwing all these things at it to just try to get me healed." 

Although no official attendance figure was available, the event drew a large crowd throughout the afternoon. The Tally Ho parking lot remained full for much of the day, with additional vehicles parked along nearby streets as attendees enjoyed the music and pleasant weather. 

Amy's cancer journey began in 2020 when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. After completing treatment in 2021 and spending four years in remission, she learned in September 2025 that the cancer had returned. 

"It was a recurrence," she said. 

This time, the diagnosis was more serious. Amy said she has triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease. By the time it was discovered, the cancer had spread to both lungs, her scalp, and her neck, resulting in a Stage 4 diagnosis. 

Initial chemotherapy treatments successfully shrank the tumors. However, a recent scan revealed another challenge when doctors discovered multiple tumors in her brain. 

"They did a brain scan and found that there was like 11 or 12 spots in my brain," she said. 

She immediately began targeted radiation treatments and is awaiting further results to determine their effectiveness. 

The family's cancer battle has been especially difficult because Clay has also faced his own recent fight with cancer. 

For those gathered Saturday, however, the focus remained on hope, friendship, and standing beside a family facing extraordinary challenges. Through music, community, and generosity, Amesfest for Hope provided both financial support and a reminder that the Carmichaels are not facing this journey alone.