Singer raises millions for flood relief

NASHVILLE, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Singer Garth Brooks sold more than 140,000 tickets and raised more than $3.5 million for flood relief for a series of concerts in Nashville, officials said.

It only took about 3 hours for the country star's concerts at the Bridgestone Arena to sell out Saturday, The (Nashville) Tennessean reported.

Brooks said last month he would play a flood relief concert, and priced the tickets at $25, about one quarter the price for tickets for an artist of his stature, the report said.

More than 13,000 tickets were available for each show.

"A very special thanks to Ben Farrell, country radio, the great people at Ticketmaster and everyone who helped with the sale ... and most of all the people who showed up to get tickets. It's great to be a part of the healing," Brooks said in a news release.

Proceeds from the concerts will benefit the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, which acts as a clearinghouse for flood relief funds.

Nashville and other Tennessee towns sustained extensive flooding on May 1-2 when severe storms dumped up to 19 inches of rain in the state.

The concerts will be presented in December.