As news got out about the tragic fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas, the Texas country music community has gone to social network sites to express their thoughts and concerns about the situation.

Country icon Willie Nelson was born in Abbott, Texas, only six miles north of West. He tweeted:

West has been in my backyard all my life. My heart is praying for the community that we call home. #westtx

Kristen Kelly, singer of hit songs 'Ex Old Man' and 'He Loves to Make Me Cry' was born twenty minutes from West. She had this to say on Twitter just hours after the explosion:

Life is so short and so precious. Let the ones you love know it. Every single day is a gift. Don't waste it. My thoughts and prayers are with friends and families in West, TX. #PrayForWestTX

Kelly followed up her heartfelt post with action, making an early morning appearance on a Waco radio station and passing along this information about how we can help the Red Cross in their relief efforts:

Spoke to my hometown radio station this morning @WACO100TEXAS: You can text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Blood donations are needed. Please donate whenever and where ever you can. #PrayForWestTX

Texas country singer Josh Grider is featured on the TV show, Troubadour, TX. He lived in Waco, less than 20 miles from West, and shared these thoughts:

I spent 5 years in Waco and, as anybody who has ever traveled I-35, have stopped in West more times than I could count. My prayers go out to all the folks there in Central Texas helping out, dealing with, and overcoming last nights events in West.

Baylor University student and contestant on NBC's 'The Voice', Holly Tucker had prayers and praise for those helping on the scene. Less than three hours after the explosion, Holly posted this on her Facebook page:

It's unbelievable how tragedy can literally hit so close to home. After reading this article and catching up on everything, I am shocked and devastated, but I am SO proud to call Waco my hometown for how the people are really coming together to help and pray. My heart is with the victims and those affected by this event. Prayers for West.

For these and so many other Texas country music artists, this tragedy hits close to home. As they share their feelings about what has happened, I think it would be a good idea to include them, their families and friends in Central Texas in your prayers. And stay tuned. There are already Texas artists in the planning stages for a benefit concert (after all, it's what they do best!).

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