Grand Ole Opry Has Big Plans For CMA Music Festival Week

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Country music’s most famous show is jamming during one of country music’s most exciting weeks, as the Grand Ole Opry® presented by Humana® is hosting five star-packed Opry shows, a free Music Fest kick-off Opry Plaza Party, benefit guitar auction, popular artist signings, and more during CMA Music Festival week June 7 – 12.

 

Two Opry shows Tues., June 7 featuring Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Darius, Rucker, Oak Ridge Boys, Jimmy Dickens, Bill Anderson, and Jerrod Niemann are sold out, but fans are invited to party with Niemann and newcomers Edens Edge during a free Opry Plaza Party presented by Humana that evening beginning at 5:00 p.m.

 

Tickets are still available for other Opry performances, including Fri., June 10, when American Idol winner Scotty McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina will make their Grand Ole Opry debuts less than two weeks after this season’s Idol finale. Among others on the Opry that night are Billy Ray Cyrus and Randy Travis, who will be signing copies of his CD “25th Anniversary Celebration” in The Opry Shop before the show.

 

The 3rd Annual Guitars of the Stars Benefit Auction, set for 4 p.m. Thurs., June 9 in Hall of Fame Park, will feature free performances by Steve Wariner and Josh Thompson and will include guitars created or inspired by Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum, and more. Wariner and Thompson will also spend part of their day greeting fans at Opry Originals at the corner of the 3rd and Broadway, as will a host of other stars throughout the week, including Craig Morgan, Mel Tillis, and Mark Wills. Updates to the Opry’s schedule will be available at http://www.opry.com/cmafest/.

 

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 or www.gaylordentertainment.com

 

GRAND OLE OPRY’S

CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL WEEK ACTIVITIES

 

Tuesday, June 7

Tuesday Night Opry

7:00 p.m., 9:30 p.m. --Grand Ole Opry House

Scheduled performers include Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Jerrod Niemann, Oak Ridge Boys, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, and more. (Shows are sold-out.)

Opry Plaza Party presented by Humana – Free and open to the public

5:00 p.m.

Performances by Edens Edge and Jerrod Niemann

 

Thursday, June 9

Steve Wariner signing copies of his latest CD Guitar Laboratory

2:30 – 3:30 p.m. --Opry Originals 3rd & Broadway

 

Craig Morgan signing autographs

3:45 – 4:45 p.m. --Opry Originals 3rd & Broadway

 

Josh Thompson signing copies of his CD, Way Out Here

5:30 – 6:30 p.m. --Opry Originals 3rd & Broadway

 

Guitars of the Stars Benefit Auction & performances by Steve Wariner and Josh Thompson

4:00 p.m. --Hall of Fame Park

One-of-a-kind guitars designed or inspired by country stars including Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, and more for sale at auction. Proceeds will benefit the Opry Trust Fund.

 

Friday, June 10

Mel Tillis signing copies of his comedy CD, You Ain’t Gonna Believe This

4:00 – 5:00 p.m. --Opry Originals 3rd & Broadway

 

Randy Travis signing copies of his new CD, 25th Anniversary Celebration

5:30 – 6:30 p.m. --Opry Shop at the Grand Ole Opry House

 

Grand Ole Opry Show

7:00 p.m. --Grand Ole Opry House

Scheduled performers include Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Roy Clark, Billy Ray Cyrus, Randy Travis, Bradley Gaskin, Charley Pride, Mel Tillis, and more.

 

Saturday, June 11

City of Hope 21st Annual Celebrity Softball Challenge

9:00 a.m. --Greer Stadium

The Grand Ole Opry team will go up against “After Midnite with Blair Garner” for a friendly rival challenge.

 

Grand Ole Opry Matinee

3:00 p.m. --Ryman Auditorium

Scheduled performers include Mandy Barnett, Thompson Square, and Anna Wilson, among others.

 

Mandy Barnett will sign copies of her new CD, Sweet Dreams

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. --Opry Originals 3rd & Broadway

 

Grand Ole Opry

7:00 p.m. --Grand Ole Opry House

Scheduled performers include Roy Clark, Charley Pride, Diamond Rio, Ralph Stanley, Mel Tillis, and more.

 

Sunday, June 12

Larry and Steve Gatlin will sign copies of their CD Pilgrimage

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. – Opry Originals 3rd & Broadway

 

Mark Wills will sign advance copies of his new CD, Looking for America

2:00 – 3:00pm – Opry Originals 3rd & Broadway

 

Please check http://www.opry.com/cmafest for up-to-date information.