Second Annual Golf Tournament and Concert Benefit First Steps
Nashville, Tennessee – The late country superstar Joe Diffie loved music, golf and giving back, and his family is carrying on those traditions by forming the Diffie Classic Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Diffie’s sons, Parker Diffie and Travis Humes, have announced Foundation board member appointments and updates on the 2nd Annual Diffie Classic Golf Tournament and Concert.
Diffie and Humes will be joined on the board by Craig Campbell of Campbell Entertainment Group, Travis Hare of PNC Bank, Chris Lazere of Carter Lumber, Josh Petersen of Music City Management, and Ricky Sessum of Music City Turf. Each member is set to serve a three-year term.
“We’re excited to gather this group of music industry and community professionals to honor our father and further his legacy,” said Parker and Travis. “Dad was all about family and giving back, and we established the foundation with a shared vision of giving back to the community through service, philanthropy, and meaningful events that reflect the values he embodied throughout his life.”
The 2nd Annual Diffie Classic Golf Tournament is set for Monday, September 21 at 12 Stones Crossing Golf Club in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. As of this writing, only four team slots are available for play. The “A Night To Remember Joe Diffie” concert, headlined by Mark Wills and John Berry, will be held at The Nashville Palace on Tuesday, September 22. The festive night of music will also include performances by Ben Burgess, Bryan Keith Burns, Craig Campbell, Ashland Craft, Parker Diffie, Ty Graham, Love & Theft, and Jesse Keith Whitley and will be hosted by Bryant Allan and Joe Denim. Concert tickets are available HERE.
Proceeds from this year’s Diffie Classic Golf Tournament and Concert will benefit First Steps, a Nashville-based organization that was especially meaningful to Diffie and his family. Diffie’s son, Tyler, who has Down syndrome, attended the First Steps early intervention and child development programs for several years. From 1992 through 2004, Diffie supported the organization by hosting the Country Steps In For First Steps concerts and golf tournaments for many years. Donate to First Steps HERE.
Diffie Classic Foundation Board Members:
Travis Humes, President and Co-Founder, Son of Joe Diffie
Travis has devoted 16 years to teaching and coaching, mentoring young people both in the classroom and on the athletic field. He believes sports provide an opportunity to teach character, leadership, discipline, resilience, and integrity—lessons that extend far beyond the game. A man of faith, Travis credits God as the foundation of his life and leadership. His faith guides his commitment to serving others and leading with humility, compassion, and purpose. Travis’s greatest blessing is his family. He and his wife, Paige, are the proud parents of Camilla and Campbell. They inspire him daily to build a legacy rooted in faith, family, and service to others.
Parker Diffie, Vice President, Son of Joe Diffie
Parker is an American country music artist, podcast host, and the dedicated executor of the Joe Diffie estate. With over 14 years of experience touring alongside his father—serving as both a stage manager and background vocalist—Parker brings a deep, lifelong understanding of the music industry to his professional endeavors.
In his role managing the Joe Diffie estate, Parker has been instrumental in preserving and revitalizing his father’s musical legacy. He played a key part in coordinating the 2024 album HIXTAPE Vol. 3: DIFFTAPE, which featured posthumous collaborations between his father and artists such as Post Malone and Morgan Wallen. He also contributed to the project as a featured performer on the track “Life Had Plans for Me,” marking a poignant final studio collaboration with his father and HARDY.
Parker is now carving out his own path in the industry. In May 2026, he released his debut solo single, “Son Of A Pickup Man,” and launched a national tribute tour titled Third Rock From The Son, which introduces his father’s iconic catalog to a new generation of fans.
Craig Campbell, Campbell Entertainment
A veteran of the Nashville music community, Campbell worked for AristoMedia for nine years before moving to Sony Music Nashville and rising to the position of Vice President, Media. He served as Joe Diffie’s publicist at Epic Records and Monument Records from 1994 to 2002. He formed Campbell Entertainment in 2008 and handles publicity for Gretchen Wilson, 38 Special, (country artist) Craig Campbell, Gulf Coast Jam, and others.
Travis Hare, PNC Bank
Travis Hare is the Vice President of Customer Success at PNC Bank, an avid golfer, and the proud husband of Joe Diffie’s daughter, Kara. He was fortunate to know Joe personally and treasures the time they shared, making it especially meaningful to help honor Joe’s life and legacy through the Diffie Classic Foundation.
Chris Lazere, Carter Lumber
Chris Lazere is a building industry leader with more than 25 years of experience in sales leadership, strategic partnerships, and national account management. He currently serves as the National Account Sales Manager for the Nashville Market at Carter Lumber. A lifelong country music fan whose life has been influenced by Joe Diffie’s music, Chris developed a close friendship with Parker Diffie, strengthening his commitment to preserving and advancing Joe’s legacy through the Joe Diffie Foundation.
Josh Petersen, Music City Management
Petersen has spent the last 20 years working in almost every capacity of the music industry in Nashville, including on-air radio talent and serving roles in marketing, sales, radio promotion, booking, and tour strategy at four different record companies. He founded Music City Management in 2013, and has worked with a variety of different artists in the Country, Rock, Pop, Christian, and Bluegrass genres.
Ricky Sessum, Music City Turf
Sessum is the Founder and CEO of Music City Turf, where he has built a reputation in the golf industry designing and constructing PGA-caliber putting greens and golf complexes, along with athletic fields and residential and commercial artificial turf projects. A Nashville-area entrepreneur, avid golfer, husband and father, Ricky has been a longtime friend and supporter of the Diffie family.