Some of the highlights of the WKXC-FM Million Pennies for Kids Guitar Pull each year are the surprises.

This year's 10th annual, sold-out event raising money for needy children at Christmas was no exception, with one-hit wonder James Otto (Just Got Started Lovin' You ) getting a long standing ovation with a song that he has yet to record.

The 6-foot-5 Mr. Otto, performing acoustically Tuesday night at the University of South Carolina Aiken Convocation Center, earned the audience response for In Color , which he wrote with Jamey Johnson and Lee Thomas Miller.

Mr. Johnson has recorded the song, and also has released a sensitive music video..

The lyrics tell of a grandfather looking at black-and-white photos that recall touching moments of his life and telling his grandchild:

"A picture's worth a thousand words but you can't see what those shades of gray keep covered. You should have seen it in color."

Mr. Otto's emotional rendition of the song hit a responsive chord with the 4,000 country music fans in attendance who sang along on the chorus.

Luke Bryan, a native Georgian and Georgia Southern University graduate, had the tough task of following Mr. Otto.

He told the audience, "I don't know what I'm going to do right now. ... I feel like crying. That's one of the coolest stage experiences I've ever had."

Nevertheless, Mr. Bryan admirably launched into his upbeat-tempo first hit single, All My Friends Say, with the audience loudly singing along.

Another surprise was American Idol finalist Kristy Lee Cook, who was a substitute for Joe Nichols, who canceled.

Even though she has yet to have a hit, the talented vocalist held her own with the other performers: Mr. Otto, Mr. Bryan, Rodney Atkins, Sara Evans and area favorite Lady Antebellum (Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood and Hillary Scott).

Backstage before the show, Ms. Cook still was bubbling with happiness from earlier Tuesday, when she was named a lifetime member of the Augusta-based National Barrel Horse Association. The only other lifetime member is singer Reba McEntire.

Ms. Cook had sold her favorite barrel competition horse to finance her music career.

Tee Gentry, WKXC's program director and afternoon announcer, was surprised by the station's management and honored for organizing the always-successful event.

The show was back in the Convocation Center for the second time.

Steve Smith, the morning show announcer with Mike Tyler, said the first one was in Augusta's Sacred Heart Cultural Center.

"This thing started from such humble beginnings and now look at it," Mr. Smith said. "It has a life all of its own. It's become such a social happening. Even if you're really not a big fan of country music, this is the place to be seen."