Steven Tyler Drops $500K For Extraordinary Cause
on Feb 06, 2019 • Updated Jan 30, 2023
The Song That Sparked It All
In 1989, Aerosmith released a song that packed a serious punch. Titled “Janie’s Got a Gun,” the song tells the story of a young woman who kills her father after suffering years of abuse from his hands.
The song made a profound impact on audiences, and on the charts. It was a #2 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and also crossed over to the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, where it ranked in the fourth position.
Aerosmith’s frontman Steven Tyler was the mastermind behind the song’s tragic tale, as he wrote all of the lyrics. In a 1998 interview with Billboard, he explained that he wrote the song because he “got really angry that nobody was paying homage to those who were abused by Mom and Dad.”
But Tyler didn’t just channel his anger into song, he turned it into action.
Passionate Champion Of Charity
In 2017, just one year after releasing his debut solo country album, We’re All Somebody from Somewhere, Tyler unveiled his next big initiative.
On This Day – July 15th 2016. Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler releases debut country solo album, We're All Somebody From Somewhere. pic.twitter.com/HjGLM5qLcl
— Mitch Lafon (@mitchlafon) July 15, 2018
Only this had nothing to do with music and everything to do with charity.
That was the year that Tyler opened his first center for abused women, a place he named “Janie’s House.” The center, located in Atlanta, was just Tyler’s first step toward providing safe havens to those who need them most.
Another House Opens Thanks To Steven
On Monday (February 4), Tyler helped open another shelter, this time in Memphis, Tennessee. The rocker turned country singer donated a whopping $500,000 to help build and renovate the space that eventually became the second Janie’s House location.
Tyler was on hand for the “scarf cutting” ceremony that opened the home and said a few words about Janie’s House and why the cause matters so much to him.
Steven Tyler holds 'scarf-cutting' ceremony for house to help abused Memphis-area girls https://t.co/8UzWYaSFnj pic.twitter.com/z5rhLakuoq
— Commercial Appeal (@memphisnews) February 4, 2019
As he explained, he first felt inspired to write “Janie’s Got a Gun” in the 80s after he entered a treatment center for addiction. While there, he met a number of young women who had suffered abuse, and felt moved by their stories.
“All the girls I met had been abused either physically, mentally, verbally, you know. At least 90% of ‘em all,” he said during the scarf cutting ceremony.
Tyler wanted to be a champion for those women, which is why he wrote “Janie’s Got a Gun” and eventually established the charity Janie’s Fund in 2015.
In the few short years since it was founded, Tyler has helped the charity raise millions of dollars, and has now opened two shelters.
The opening of both Janie’s House locations has changed Tyler’s life as well. He is now more devoted than ever to helping abused women and girls.
WATCH: Steven Tyler just opened a home for abused girls named "Janie's House," which was inspired by the 1989 Aerosmith hit "Janie's Got A Gun" https://t.co/lI9n5QGCUU pic.twitter.com/duULoJEXvc
— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 5, 2019
“I’m gonna bring this Janie’s fund with me wherever I go,” he said. “It’s like a dream come true.”
That dream is about to come true in Las Vegas where the third Janie’s House location will open later this year.
Hats off to Tyler for leading the charge to make a difference. You can learn more about how Janie’s Fund came to be by listening to his speech during the scarf cutting ceremony at the new Janie’s House location in Memphis.
