Grand Ole Opry

OPRY NEWS

Rivals “After MidNite with Blair Garner” and Grand Ole Opry announce team drafts for City of Hope’s 20th annual Celebrity Softball Challenge in Nashville, June 7

Country music's most talented artists will step up to home plate at City of Hope's 20^th annual Celebrity Softball Challenge on June 7 at 7 p.m. at Greer Stadium in Nashville. Rival teams Grand Ole Opry and "After MidNite with Blair Garner" announced their team drafts, which include CMA Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist and Grammy Award winner Vince Gill, ACM Top New Artist and Top New Solo Artist Luke Bryan and two-time reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year and Grand Ole Opry member Carrie Underwood. Tickets for $20 are available at www.ticketmaster.com. In its 20-year history, the Celebrity Softball Challenge in Nashville has raised over $2 million for City of Hope, a leading research, education and treatment center for cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Playing for the "After MidNite with Blair Garner" team are Ben Broussard, Chuck Wicks, David Nail, Joe Nichols, Josh Thompson, Luke Bryan, comedienne Melissa Peterman, JP Dumont of the Nashville Predators, CMT's Katie Cook as emcee, Mike Gossin and Rachel Reinart of Gloriana, Randy Montana, Savannah Jack, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ken Amato and Donnie Nickey of the Titans, Vince Gill, Keith Anderson, and Whitney Duncan.

In addition to Underwood, Grand Ole Opry team players include Brian Lambert as coach, Cheyenne Kimball and Tom Gossin of Gloriana, Craig Morgan, Colt Ford, Felix Cavaliere, Jaron & the Long Road to Love, Jason Aldean, Wade Belak of the Nashville Predators, Julianne Hough, Justin Moore, Mallary Hope, Great American Country's host of "Headline Country" Storme Warren as emcee, The Band Perry, Titans Courtland Finnegan and Justin Gage, Trailer Choir and Two Foot Fred.

This year's event celebrates two decades of country music's biggest celebrities coming together in support of lifesaving research, treatment and education at City of Hope, one of the nation's leading cancer centers. Music fans who can't attend the game can still support City of Hope by visiting www.auctionsforhope.org and bidding online immediately following the event for one-of-a kind collectibles signed by country's hottest stars, sports celebrities and others. For those who have dedicated their lives to the flood relief efforts in Nashville, City of Hope is donating 200 game-day tickets to the American Red Cross. 

The presenting media sponsor for City of Hope's 20^th annual Celebrity Softball Challenge in Nashville is PEOPLE Country. Other sponsors include Humana, KOTEX U from Kimberly-Clark, Comcast and Flexjet.

For more information on the Celebrity Softball Challenge in Nashville, visit www.cityofhope.org/softball.

About "After MidNite with Blair Garner"
Blair Garner created "After MidNite with Blair Garner" nearly 17 years ago. He's one of the most successful radio personalities in the country, winning the Academy of Country Music's National "On-Air Personality of the Year" award in 2004 and 2006, and having been nominated countless times for others, including the prestigious Marconi Award and Billboard's Nationally Syndicated Air Personality award. "After MidNite" is syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks and can be heard on more than 260 stations from "MidNite" to 6 a.m. Blair also created "The Blair Garner Show" in 2006. It can be heard on over 40 stations from 10 p.m. to "MidNite." For more information on both shows, visit www.blairgarner.com.

About the Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville.  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.

About City of Hope
City of Hope is a leading research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as a comprehensive cancer center, the highest honor bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, City of Hope's research and treatment protocols advance care throughout the nation. City of Hope is located in Duarte, Calif., just northeast of Los Angeles, and is ranked as one of "America's Best Hospitals" in cancer and urology by U.S.News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation and genetics. For more information, visit www.cityofhope.org.