Feb. 22 Declared Steven Curtis Chapman Day

Chapman was beginning the last half of the concert when the Commissioners came up on stage and the audience could tell he was not expecting what was about to happen. He admitted he was not sure what was going on but he would play along. The Paducah native got several standing ovations throughout the night, but the one when the crowd burst into applause for the declaration had to have confirmed that Paducah is proud of him and the work he and his family have chosen to spend their lives doing. Along with his wife Mary Beth, he is a vocal advocate for adoption. Show Hope is a ministry that enables individuals and communities to change the world for orphans by not only addressing a child’s need for food, shelter, care, and spiritual nourishment, but by also addressing the root issue for an orphan: the lack of a family. 
 
Chapman recently received a big honor from the commonwealth when he was given the national recognition in the Governor's Awards in the Arts, Kentucky's top arts awards. The national award goes to a Kentucky native or person with a strong association with the state who has had a national impact in the arts. Previous winners include George Clooney and the Judds. "Anybody can win a Grammy or a Dove Award," says Chapman, who has five Grammys and a whopping 56 Doves, more than anyone in history. "But it's a little more narrowed down when you get opportunities like that to get recognized as a Kentucky boy, a Paducah boy."