When was honored in L.A. by City of Hope, it was an award that connected with him on a personal level.
"I have cancer patients and people who have had cancer in my family," he tells AOL Music. "It's hit a lot of families, and this is an important thing to come out to." 
DeGraw has seen firsthand the effects his music, and music in general, can have on the spirits of people with illness. He recalls a particular meeting that left a big impact on him.
"I got a phone call from the mother of a kid who was in a hospital in Ohio," he says. "He was a big fan and he's a musician, so I went over to the hospital and I played bedside for him. Music, for him, is medicine.
He was singing along and he had these two little sisters who were singing harmonies with him. It was adorable. He was, like, 13 and the sisters were maybe five and seven.
I still keep up with what's going on in his life a little bit."
And what are his own personal favorite "comfort songs?" " 'A Change Is Gonna Come,' performance of 'A Song for You' and 'Scrapyard Lullaby.
'"
Whitley, who passed away in 2005, is an artist who made a big impact on DeGraw, professionally and, in passing, personally. "I love him. He's amazing," DeGraw says.
"Actually, my friend John was making a documentary on him right before he died, and my brother and him were friendly. It's just a shame because he was so magnificent. He was 45 and a genius.
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