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"My family has been really affected by cancer," the Texas native tells The Boot. "My Nana died of cancer, my Pawpaw passed away May 11 of last year of cancer. My mom is a two-time cancer survivor, breast and thyroid. That's just some of it; there are a lot of instances in my family."
Casey decided to let his hair grow long so that he could make a difference for someone fighting the dreaded disease. But he didn't originally intend to keep it long. "When I grew my hair out to donate it, I didn't have money or anything else to offer," he says. "Then I went on 'American Idol' and it became an image thing, so it's one of those situations where I can't change it until people know who I am."
Casey understands the philosophy of not cutting his hair once it's become a trademark. Now that he's continuing his success from the "American Idol" days, he says he has more ways to help fight cancer than he had before.
"It was always about doing something for that cause, and when my fans heard the story of the reason I grew out my hair, some of them grew out theirs and donated it to Locks of Love," he proudly reports. "That was so touching to me.
"I'm not associated with any particular organization right now, but that is coming soon," continues the singer-songwriter. "There are so many choices and I want to make sure I choose the right one. I've always played charity events, and I'm a big fan of doing that. Everyone has been given gifts and we should all use them for good. Before I was on 'Idol' and before my recording deal, I would go to nursing homes and work with community service people if there was some place I could play. I always done that, and now more than ever I feel like it's important."
It might not be too long before Casey can trim those curly locks, if he really wants to go back to a shorter cut. He says fans at his shows are more quickly recognizing "Crying on a Suitcase" and his first single, "Let's Don't Call It a Night."
"It's finally starting to happen. I'm starting to hear people say, 'Hey, I heard the song on the radio,' and I've actually heard it myself," he says. "It is a song that gets stuck in your head -- that's what I loved about it from the very beginning, among everything else that I love about the song. The fact that it's getting to that point where people are hearing it and talking about it is so exciting for me."
See Photos of Casey & Other Celebs With Great Hair Makeovers
- Blake Shelton, 2003
- Blake Shelton, 2012
- Taylor Swift, 2006
- Taylor Swift, 2012
- Miranda Lambert, 2005
- Miranda Lambert, 2011
- Kellie Pickler, 2011
- Kellie Pickler, 2012
- Reba, 2001
- Reba, 2011
- Keith Urban, 2001
- Keith Urban, 2012
- Sara Evans, 2005
- Sara Evans, 2012
- Faith Hill, 1999
- Faith Hill, 2012
- Martina McBride, 2000
- Martina McBride, 2011
- Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott, 2008
- Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott, 2011
- Casey James, 2010
- Casey James, 2012
- Dixie Chicks, 1999
- Dixie Chicks, 2007
- Music's Cancer Survivors
- Wade Hayes
- Sheryl Crow
- Melissa Etheridge
- Kylie Minogue
- Olivia Newton-John
- Merle Haggard
- Nanci Griffith
- Eddie Montgomery
- Carly Simon
- Marianne Faithfull
- Sexiest Country Album Covers
- 6. Tim McGraw, 'Greatest Hits, Volume II'
- 1. Carrie Underwood, 'Blown Away'
- 2. Shania Twain, 'Up!'
- 3. Shelby Lynne, 'Love Shelby'
- 4. Keith Urban, 'Get Closer'
- 5. Dolly Parton, 'Rainbow'
- 7. Sara Evans, 'No Place That Far'
- 8. Lorrie Morgan, 'War Paint'
- 9. Kenny Chesney, 'No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems'
- 10. Tammy Wynette, 'Let's Get Together'
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