When Lauren Alaina learned, via an emotional phone call with Reba McEntire, that she had won the ACM Award for New Female Vocalist of the Year, it was evident to anyone watching that the honor marked an important career milestone for the up-and-coming country star. However, as Alaina pointed out in a recent Instagram post, good news and bad news often coincide.

While the impulse to only document happy moments on social media is natural, the country singer has opened up to her fans about her stepdad's fight with cancer -- following his diagnosis the same week that she learned that she had won an ACM Award -- with a message of solidarity with anyone battling the disease.

"Cancer doesn't discriminate," Alaina writes. "It doesn't care if you're two or 80 years old. It doesn't care if you're a perfectly healthy 47-year-old step-dad, husband and grandfather who eats healthily and runs six miles a day. It can happen to anyone to anyone."

Alaina's stepfather, Sam Ramker, was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. The country star has spoken about his illness in the past, and recently joined dozens of other country stars for the 28th annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game, which took place during the 2018 CMA Fest.

In her post, Alaina also thanked her fans for their concern, and for expressing their support of her family in the wake of Ramker's diagnosis. "To the families and people who have been affected by this horrible disease or any disease, my family has felt the pain you've felt for the last four months. We are praying for you," she continues. "We love you, and we are so thankful for all of the love coming our way."

Alaina also shared a link to Ramker's GoFundMe page, where fans who wish to contribute can make donations to help the family pay for his growing medical expenses.

She ended her note to fans with a reminder of how the week that Ramker was diagnosed brought both one of the best and one of the worst pieces of news she had ever received. The image depicts Alaina with her family, including Ramker, smiling and posing with her trophy. "I chose this picture because of how happy that trophy made him," Alaina goes on to say. "We made sure he and my mom were there for the award show. That trophy is my very favorite thing I've ever gotten. It brought so much happiness in a week of sadness. That's how God works."

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