If there’s one thing Danielle Peck loves more than singing, it’s her family. That’s one reason she became the spokesperson for Nashville’s Safe Haven homeless shelter.

“Safe Haven is one of only two homeless shelters in Tennessee that takes in the whole family as a unit,” she says. “Because I’m such a big family person, it made sense to get involved with a place that helps whole families together. I just fell in love with the whole place. They do so much — they keep the kids in school, [they have] budgeting and skill classes for the parents, and they get parents that are out of work back into work. And the success rate is like 84 percent of all the families they take in. That’s incredible!”

On March 24, the “Findin’ a Good Man” singer headlined the second annual Danielle Peck and Friends Benefit Concert for Safe Haven at the Mercy Lounge in Nashville. Performers include Keith Anderson, Eric Church, Bucky Covington and Carolyn Dawn Johnson.

“We’re raising awareness and making money for [Safe Haven] to continue doing what they do, because it’s not a government-funded place,” says Peck. “Anybody who’s ever had to go through hard times, whether it’s a natural disaster or too many medical bills or the loss of a job, their family can find themselves in a position where they lose their homes. It’s a terrible thing to happen to anybody, but there’s a place that tries to help out, and that’s Safe Haven.”

Peck is so sold on the shelter, she volunteers there as often as possible throughout the year. “Anything I can ever do for them, any holiday, any festival, they’ve got my number, they can count me in!”

If there’s anything Jennifer Hanson loves more than songwriting, it might just be her dogs. Best known for writing “Leave the Pieces” for the Wreckers and “A Different World” for Bucky Covington, Hanson owns a Silky Terrier named Sidney, a Yorkie named Annabell and a Chihuahua named Buster Brown. And each, she says, has its own personality and place in the family dynamic. 

“Sidney is a little big for his britches, but extremely smart,” says Hanson. “Annabell is like my shadow. She follows me everywhere around the house and is always in someone’s lap. Buster Brown is very loving and affectionate. He is also excellent at fetching the ball.” 

The Universal South recording artist can’t resist dressing up her tiny family members from time to time. “I have sweaters for all the dogs and several dresses for Annabell,” she admits. 

When her new album hits stores in 2008, Jennifer will no doubt spend a lot of time on the road, so she expects to take the dogs along on the bus. But for now, when she’s out of town, she makes sure her pooches are pampered at a local kennel. “When I travel, the dogs stay at The Farm at Natchez Trace,” says Hanson. “They get the royal treatment there — lots of playtime, grooming, nature walks, etc. They get treats for good behavior. Pup-Peroni’s are their favorites!” 

Does leather ever go out of style? Not for some people. If you’re in love with leather, you’re at the forefront of fashion these days. This fall, leather jackets are as plentiful as falling leaves– and just as colorful. Beyond the classic brown and black, you’ll spot shades of cream, gold, green and this season’s trendiest color for everything, gray.
 
Nowhere are the color choices greater than in the season’s hottest style, the motocross jacket. Short and sassy, with multiple zippers, pockets or other smart touches, motocross jackets come in colors ranging from bright green and orange to classic black. Gucci, Hermes, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton and other top designers featured the jackets in their fall collections, and nearly every retail store stocks some version of the style.
 
If you like your rawhide to cover a little more hide, there are plenty of longer, more fitted leather options, like the rich brown blazer Danielle Peck wore at a Major League Baseball playoff game (left). Styles with a tucked-in waist highlight curves, something everyone loves. Luckily, the hourglass silhouette is another of the season’s hottest trends.

Guys are getting in on the leather fun as well. “I worked with Bucky Covington on his last video, and we put him in a cool, distressed motocross jacket,” says Libby Callaway, stylist and fashion columnist for the Nashville City Paper.

Leather isn’t cheap, but you don’t have to spend $900 for one of the designer looks. One great thing about a hot trend is everyone jumps on board, so you’ll find stylish lower-priced options in lots of department stores. This is one fashionable item that’s definitely worth it — a wardrobe must-have that works wonders. “It can dress down a skirt or dress up jeans,” says Callaway. “Everything looks good with a leather jacket.”