BRAD PAISLEY, CARRIE UNDERWOOD, KEITH URBAN, MARTINA MCBRIDE, RANDY TRAVIS, RASCAL FLATTS, RONNIE DUNN, SARA EVANS,

 SCOTTY MCCREERY & TRACE ADKINS

AMONG THE STARS SCHEDULED TO APPEAR AS

THE GRAND OLE OPRY CELEBRATES

 ITS 86^TH BIRTHDAY THROUGHOUT OCTOBER

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  (Sept., 22, 2011) – The Grand Ole Opry_® presented by Humana_® is set to celebrate its 86^th birthday with a month full of special shows and events boasting an elite star-packed line-up of performers throughout October.

 

The celebration begins on Tues., Oct. 4, as the Opry honors Randy Travis’ 25 years in country music and as an Opry member with appearances by Carrie Underwood, Connie Smith, Josh Turner, and more, including the guest of honor.  Several performances from the night’s show will be part of an episode of “Opry Live” scheduled to air on GAC: Great American Country on Sat., Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. Central.

 

The Opry’s Official 86^th Birthday Bash Weekend Oct. 7-8 features Charley Pride, Rascal Flatts, the solo Opry debut of Ronnie Dunn, and more.  Also on tap for the celebration are a Saturday afternoon birthday concert featuring Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame member Mel Tillis and a free Opry Plaza Birthday Party sponsored by Kodak_® throughout the day Saturday.  Fans can make plans for the Birthday Weekend fun by checking out the full weekend schedule at opry.com. “Opry Live” will broadcast the 86^th Birthday Bash live on GAC at 8 p.m. Central.

 

Chris Young, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, LeAnn Rimes, Montgomery Gentry, Sara Evans, Scotty McCreery, and Trace Adkins, are among those to appear on the Opry Tues., Oct. 11. The night will include a live broadcast of “Opry Live” at 7 p.m. Central. Other performances from the night will be filmed for a second “Opry Live” to air Oct. 29 at 8 p.m. Central.

 

The Opry’s signature barn turns pink on Sat., Oct. 22 as the Opry joins Women Rock For The Cure™ in the fight against breast cancer with its third annual“Opry Goes Pink” show. Opry member Martina McBride, whose current single “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” offers hope to those affected by cancer, will flip the switch on the Opry’s barn backdrop, turning it pink for the night. The special show will also include performances by Edens Edge, Kellie Pickler, Lauren Alaina, Ronnie Milsap, and others as well as activities recognizing breast cancer survivors and the continuing fight against the disease. $5 from each ticket sold for the show (7 p.m. performance) will benefit Women Rock For The Cure™. This special show will broadcast live on GAC at 8 p.m. Central.

 

The star-packed celebration month is also set to feature Opry performances by Brad Paisley, Bill Anderson, Charlie Daniels Band, Clint Black, Keith Urban, Lee Greenwood, Little Big Town, The Oak Ridge Boys, Rodney Atkins,  Tanya Tucker, and more as well as Thursday night Opry Country ClassicsSpotlight Artist performances by Charley Pride, Lorrie Morgan, Ray Price, and Ricky Skaggs.

 

In addition to the Opry Birthday celebration throughout October, the Country Music Association is celebrating Country Music Month with 45 days of promotions, events, and activities designed to drive awareness of the format leading up to the annual CMA Awards, “Country Music’s Biggest Night™,” on Wednesday, Nov. 9. Events are planned for Mon., Sept. 26 through Wed., Nov. 9, when the campaign culminates with “The 45^th Annual CMA Awards,” which will be held at the Bridgestone Arena and broadcast live on the ABC Television Network. Planned grassroots promotional efforts include:

• CMA Songwriter Series events in New York and Nashville
• “Keep the Music Playing” event celebrating music education in public schools
• Launch of CountryMusicMonth.com with daily content updates
• Radio and TV PSA campaign featuring education and entertaining Country Music facts by artists and personalities of the format
• CMA giveaways and partner sweepstakes, and more

 

The Grand Ole Opry_® is presented by Humana_®. Opry performances are held every weekend of the year, and the Tuesday Night Opry continues through Dec. 13. 

 

About the Grand Ole Opry

The Grand Ole Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn.  Celebrating 85 years of entertainment, the Opry can be heard on 650 WSM-AM, SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio, and opry.com. The syndicated weekly program, America’s Opry Weekend, airs on country radio stations across America and on the Armed Forces Radio Network. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a Nashville-based hospitality and entertainment company that also owns and operates Gaylord Hotels.  For more information, visit opry.com orwww.gaylordentertainment.com