TEXAS — There’s arguably no celebrity more Texan than Matthew McConaughey and when the power went out and pipes froze for millions of his neighbors, he vowed to do something about it. Our Dr. Nicole Cross spoke to him about his hometown pride and why he had to step in and help his neighbors recover from the winter storms.

Even with an Oscar win, Sexiest Man Alive title and marriage to a Brazilian bombshell, Matthew McConaughey still sticks close to his Texas roots. “What does it mean for you to be a Texan?” Dr. Cross asked.

“That’s a great question. I enjoy trying my best to answer this throughout my life and around the world because I get asked this around the world," he replied. "There [are] reasons we do and don’t do things in life. Whether as a believer, it’s under God, or as an American, and because of your last name. Mothers and fathers go you don’t do that or you do that because you’re a Christian. There are consequences one way or the other for your God, your nation, and your name. Texas has a fourth filter. The fourth measure is because you’re a Texan. You don’t do that because you’re a Texan. So you have God, nation, Texan, and your name. I don’t know another state that has a state measurement for your expectation of excellence from individuals.” 

“Texas has more of an identity than any other state I’ve been to, but we’re not secular, meaning we let Texans get out and go and explore the world. A lot of Texans go fill their passport and we say get out of here then come back and tell us the story,” he added.

Matthew McConaughey and his wife Camila, along with their just keep livin foundation, are hosting a virtual benefit concert to help Texans affected by the winter storms. The event will air exclusively in Texas on Spectrum News 1 on Sunday, March 21 at 7 p.m. CT. It will include musical performances by Texas natives, residents and supporters including: Don Henley, Gary Clark Jr., George Strait, Kacey Musgraves, Kelly Clarkson, Khalid, Kirk Franklin, Leon Bridges, Lukas Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum, Post Malone, Randy Rogers, Willie Nelson.

The event will also include special appearances from Angie Harmon, Chip & Joanna Gaines, Clayton Kershaw, Dak Prescott, Dr. Phil McGraw, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Joe Rogan, Jonas Brothers, Marcus Lemonis, Megan Thee Stallion, Renée Zellweger, Selena Gomez, Troy Aikman and Woody Harrelson.

"We're Texas," presented by Matthew McConaughey, to benefit victims of the Texas Winter storms, will be televised on Spectrum News 1 Sunday, March 21 at 7 p.m. CDT. All week, Spectrum News 1 will highlight interviews with McConaughey and some of the people affected by the storm.