Murfreesboro, TN - The buzz is building for Read To Succeed’s 19th Annual Celebrity Spelling Bee, It's set for Friday evening, November 7, 2025, at The View at Fountains, 1500 Medical Center Parkway. Doors open at 5:30PM, dinner begins at 6:30PM, and the spelling showdown kicks off at 7:00PM.

This year’s lineup of local celebrity spellers includes Kaitlyn Benavides, Kara Carpenter, Ashley Carter, Dr. Jeremy Lewis, Eric Murry, Tim Tipps, Jen Tooley, Katie Turner, Shannon Wheeler, and Robert White. Each will take the stage not just to spell, but to support a mission that’s been changing lives in Rutherford County for over two decades.

The Celebrity Spelling Bee is Read To Succeed’s largest fundraiser of the year, and the goal for 2025 is ambitious: $70,000. Every dollar raised stays right here in the county, fueling programs that serve adults, children, and families through literacy education. From ESL classes and GED prep to youth book clubs and family reading nights, the organization’s reach is wide—and its impact is deep.

Founded in 2003, Read To Succeed began as a grassroots response to literacy gaps in the community. What started as a conversation among educators and civic leaders has grown into a full-fledged movement, with free services offered to anyone eager to learn. The Literacy Center in Murfreesboro serves as the hub, but the heart of the organization beats in classrooms, libraries, and homes across the county.

The Celebrity Spelling Bee is more than just a fun night out—it’s a celebration of what literacy can do. It’s about giving people the tools to thrive, whether they’re learning to read for the first time or helping their children fall in love with books. And it’s about coming together as a community to support that mission.

Tickets are on sale now. For more information, call Read To Succeed at 615-738-READ (7323) or email info@readtosucceed.org. Come for the spelling, stay for the stories—and help write the next chapter in Rutherford County’s literacy success.