Lady A Performs On Tonight's Stand Up To Cancer Event - Read Their Personal Story, Cancer Hits Close To Home

Lady Antebellum has some very personal reasons for taking part in tonight's all-star Stand Up to Cancer television event.

The deadly disease has hit close to home for the country group's singers Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott...

Not long after Kelley married his music publicist wife Cassie McConnell in July 2009, his father-in-law was diagnosed with colon cancer. "It was pretty scary," Kelley told me yesterday during a break from Lady A's SU2C rehearsal in Los Angeles. "But he's fighting it right now. They shrunk it down to almost nothing. He's doing really good, right back out working."

Scott's paternal grandfather died from lung cancer, and now one of her mom's best friends has colon cancer. "She is fighting for her life right now," Scott said. "She's working really really hard to fight it. I think so much of it is being able to rally together with your friends and family," she continued. "And having that fighting spirit of mind over matter and doing everything you can do to stay healthy."

SU2C raises funds to help speed up research and approval of cancer treatments.

Other performers include Leona Lewis, Queen Latifah, Martina McBride, Billie Joe Armstrong and Neil Diamond with appearances by George Clooney, Gwyneth Paltrow, Will Smith, Renée Zellweger, Jane Lynch and Sam Trammell.

Lady A will perform with music and acting legend Kris Kristofferson.

"In several interviews people have asked me, 'Who's somebody you want to meet?' " Kelley said. "And I always said Kris Kristofferson—and here we are!"

Stand Up to Cancer will simulcast live and commercial free tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT and 7 p.m. CT on all major networks.  Donation phone lines open half hour prior, at 6:30 p.m. CT

By Mark Malkin - E Online