Two of the biggest names in Tennessee tourism are teaming up to bring a major family entertainment zone to Nashville. Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET) and Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Company have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a 50/50 joint venture to develop a 114-acre family entertainment zone adjacent to the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. The Dollywood Company will serve as the operating partner. Phase one of the project is a yet unnamed approximately $50 million water and snow park, the first of its kind in the United States. A late 2012, early 2013 groundbreaking date is expected with the park opening slated for summer of 2014.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean joined Dolly Parton and Colin V. Reed, chairman and chief executive officer, for Gaylord Entertainment at today’s announcement at the Grand Ole Opry House at Gaylord Opryland. "Tourism is the second largest industry in Tennessee, generating more than a billion dollars in tax revenue annually and employing more than 170,000 Tennesseans,” Haslam said. "This project will be a welcome addition to the wide variety of attractions and destinations across our great state, and I applaud the collaboration and spirit that has led to this announcement."

“Music City has become a travel destination unlike any other in the country,” Dean said. “The addition of this family entertainment complex near Opryland adds a critical missing piece to our tourist offerings. It provides a unique leisure attraction that will further enhance our already booming hospitality industry, which is one of our city’s top private sector employers.”

The water and snow park will anchor the project which offers room for future expansion. The park will provide a mix of high energy water activities for the summer season and designated snow activities for winter play. Once open, first year attendance is projected at 500,000, a large portion of which will come from out of state, bringing in substantial tourism revenue to Tennessee and Nashville. Dollywood expects to employ 450 full- and part-time employees.

This proposed attraction furthers Gaylord’s focus on growing the leisure side of its business and continuing to drive revenue through its top-notch entertainment attractions throughout the year. The Dollywood Company is responsible for managing Dolly Parton’s Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, as well as her dinner theatre attraction, Dixie Stampede. Annually, these attractions attract approximately four million visitors and have won some of the industry’s most coveted awards including “world’s best theme park” and “America’s most beautiful water park.”

“I’m so excited about this opportunity,” Dolly Parton said. “I am confident that partnering my Dollywood Company with a great company like Gaylord will create something truly special. We’re all working on new types of entertainment to do in the daytime and nighttime for the whole family so we bring new folks to the area year round.”

“We are thrilled by the prospect of bringing to Nashville a family focused entertainment center with one of the preeminent theme park owners and operators in the country,” said Colin V. Reed, chairman and chief executive officer, for Gaylord Entertainment. “I am confident this proposed attraction, which will be a destination not only for our hotel guests but also for the entire Nashville community, will meaningfully enhance our transient and leisure strategy by providing a fun, family environment at the doorstep of the Opryland Hotel. With Dolly Parton’s country music legacy and strong ties to Nashville, we can think of no better partner for this venture than Dolly’s Dollywood Company.”

“We hope that some other developers with great ideas will join us for phase two of this project. We’re saying the water and snow park are the first phase, but who knows, if we see some great ideas we could be developing the entire zone by the time the snow and water park open. Wouldn’t that be great for Nashville and the state,” Parton said.

“We are in the early stages of planning and will make certain that any project we pursue is done so under the appropriate economic conditions and provides adequate returns for our shareholders,” said Reed. “We are reserving approximately 35 acres for expansion and complimentary regional attractions and we have been working closely with state and city officials to ensure we have the proper infrastructure agreements in place for the project to move forward. We are looking forward to working on the next steps of this project and to it becoming a valuable part of the Nashville tourism community."

Based in the picturesque Great Smoky Mountains, Dollywood is a 150-acre family adventure park which operates nine months a year (late March through December) and offers more than 40 rides and attractions; award-winning live entertainment featuring country, bluegrass, gospel and mountain music; and a dozen crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. A family-friendly vacation destination, Dollywood also includes the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country, voted America’s “Must-See Waterpark.” Dollywood offers all-inclusive vacation planning with a variety of overnight lodging options. For more information, call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD or visit dollywood.com.

Urban is also confirmed to be among those playing the Opry Fri., March 9 at the Opry House.

Additional performers scheduled to appear on the Opry in upcoming weeks include Opry members Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Del McCoury, Craig Morgan, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ricky Skaggs, and Josh Turner as well as special guests Shawn Colvin, Rodney Crowell, and more. Click here for the full schedule.

In 2001, the Country Music Association honored Keith Urban with its Horizon Award, designating him a talented artist with a bright future.  He is the first Horizon Award winner in history to go on to win the CMA’s Male Vocalist of the Year, a title he’s captured three times, and the coveted Entertainer of the Year.  More than 15 million albums later, Keith is a four-time Grammy Award winner, who has also won a People’s Choice and American Music Award.  He’s won five Academy of Country Music Awards, had 14 #1s, including 26 Top 5 hits and two consecutive #1 CDs.  Last year, his Get Closer 2011 World Tour solidified Urban as one of the music industry’s best live performers.  His latest CD, Get Closer, comes on the heels of his fifth consecutive platinum or multi-platinum release.

Click here for tickets!

Click here for tickets!

“Emmylou is treasured not just by all of us at the Grand Ole Opry, but also by fans around the world,” said Pete Fisher, Opry vice president and general manager. She’s shared so many great musical moments with us over the past 20 years, singing with and introducing us to some of her favorite musical collaborators. We’re excited to celebrate her Opry anniversary at the Ryman, a stage on which she’s displayed such incredible artistry through the years.”

During her career, Harris has successfully erased boundaries between country, folk and rock ‘n roll.  During the 60s she fell in love with folk music and began performing while in college.  In the late 60s Harris met Gram Parsons, formerly of The Byrds, and he became her mentor and singing partner, drawing her into the 70s country rock movement.  She toured and recorded with Parsons until his death in 1973.  Since then, Harris has continued to develop her musical style by combining folk music with an electric base and has a sound that is uniquely her own.  She has enjoyed seven No. 1 and 27 Top 10 hits. Among her most memorable releases: “If I Could Only Win Your Love,” “Together Again,” “Sweet Dreams,” “Making Believe,” “To Daddy,” and “Heartbreak Hill.”  In 1999 Billboard Magazine recognized her distinguished career achieveme nts with its highest honor – the Century Award.  Harris was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008 and has won 12 Grammy_® awards.

Stop by on Friday, December 2 because Mandy Barnett will sign copies of her CDs, Sweet Dreams and Winter Wonderland, immediately following the Opry at the Ryman from 9:15 - 10 pm.

On Saturday, December 3, Suzy Bogguss will sign copies of her latest CD, American Folk Songbook. Meet her at Opry Originals from 9:15 - 10 pm!

On Friday, December 9, Joey + Rory will sign copies of their new Christmas CD, A Farmhouse Christmas. Stop by Opry Originals from 9:15 - 10 pm.

Stop in Tuesday, December 13 to catch Phil Vassar signing copies of his new Christmas CD, Noel, as well as his new Greatest Hits CD, The Hits Live On Broadway. Meet him at Opry Originals from 9:15 - 10 pm.

Among the artists and songs included in the Thanksgiving special are Gill’s “Blue Christmas,” Dierks Bentley’s “Home,” Martina McBride’s “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” Blake Shelton’s “God Gave Me You,” Trade Adkins’ “Million Dollar View,” Carrie Underwood’s “Temporary Home,” and Brad Paisley’s “Winter Wonderland.”

In celebration of the radio special, opry.com has added a GUITAR SLINGER section to the site featuring an exclusive interview with Gill about the new album and a Guitar Town Sweepstakes offering guitars autographed by the award-winner and a three-day Nashville getaway.

Programmers interested in America’s Opry Weekend should contact Dial Global. America’s Opry Weekend presents top artists’ performances from the Opry stage each week.  The show is serviced by Dial Global and airs on country radio stations across the country and on the Armed Forces Radio Network.

Opry member and country music/Southern rock stalwart Charlie Daniels celebrated his 75^th birthday at the Opry this past weekend. During the show, Tennessee National Guard Major General Max Haston promoted Daniels to the Guard’s rank of Brigadier General.

The Opry returns to its most famous former home, the historic Ryman Auditorium, for a three-month winter run beginning tonight (Tues., Nov. 1) with appearances by Rascal Flatts, Rodney Atkins, and more. Others scheduled to appear in November and December include Dierks Bentley, Emmylou Harris, Civil Wars, Marshall Tucker Band, Charley Pride, Darius Rucker, Josh Turner, Keith Urban, Daniels, and more.

Country music fans and RFD-TV viewers are about to get a lot closer to some of their favorite country music artists. Reflections From The Circle, premiering on the network on Sun., Nov. 6, is set to feature fan favorites including Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, Charlie Daniels, Vince Gill, Kellie Pickler, and Josh Turner reflecting on their personal lives and careers during intimate conversations on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry with TV and WSM radio personality Eddie Stubbs.

The premiere episode of Reflections From The Circle is set to feature Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill.  All shows are scheduled to air Sundays at 7:00 p.m. EST/6:00 p.m. CST. The show’s first season schedule follows:

Sunday, Nov. 6 – Vince Gill

Sunday, Nov. 13 – Trace Adkins

Sunday, Nov. 20 – Dierks Bentley

Sunday, Nov. 27 – Josh Turner

Sunday, Dec.  4 – Kellie Pickler

Sunday, Dec.  18 – Charlie Daniels

Click here to find RFD-TV in your area.

Each show emanates from the Opry stage within the famed six-foot circle of wood, which was moved from the Ryman Auditorium to center stage of the Grand Ole Opry House when the Opry took up residence in its new home in 1974. The circle holds personal significance on innumerable levels for all the artists appearing on the show. Turner was officially welcomed to the Opry family there by Vince Gill, who says he’ll always remember singing his career-making “When I Call Your Name” while the King of Country Music, Roy Acuff, looked on just a foot away. In addition to career highlights on the Opry stage, Adkins took time out from his Opry debut to propose marriage and years later announced from the circle that he and his wife were expecting a baby. Bentley celebrated his official Opry induction inside the circle with his beloved dog Jake. Daniels invited one of his favorite acts, Montgomery Gentry, to join the Opry family while they stood on the circle of wood, then returned with the duo to sing “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” on the night the Opry House re-opened following last year’s Nashville flood.

Host Stubbs is already familiar to many RFD-TV viewers, appearing as the on-camera announcer for the network’s “The Marty Stuart Show” the past three years. He’s a 16-year veteran of country station 650 AM-WSM and of the Grand Ole Opry announcer staff. He was this week named as a 2012 inductee into the Country Radio Hall of Fame.

Keith Urban sang his hits for a sold-out Opry House audience Tuesday night, and the audience sang right back. After the CMA Entertainer of the Year nominee performed his first song of the night, “Sweet Thing,” fans who were gathered near the stage serenaded the superstar with “Happy Birthday” in honor of his birthday on Wednesday. Urban concluded his Opry set with “Making Memories of Us” and “Where the Blacktop Ends.” The superstar is scheduled to return to the Opry twice next month.

This Sat., Oct. 29 Opry member and country music/Southern rock stalwart Charlie Daniels will be celebrating his 75^th birthday at the Opry with birthday shows including the guest of honor as well as Opry member Clint Black plus special guests The Grascals, Lee Greenwood, Gretchen Wilson, and more. Fans at home can celebrate Daniels’ birthday early by visiting the Opry’s YouTube channel, this week including a special playlist of Daniels’ Opry performances.

The Opry returns to its most famous former home, the historic Ryman Auditorium, for a three-month winter run beginning Tues. Nov. 1.  Newest Opry member Rascal Flatts will be performing along with the most tenured Opry member, Little Jimmy Dickens, as well as special guests Rodney Atkins, Edens Edge, Phil Vassar, and more.

The Grand Ole Opry_®, joined Women Rock For The Cure™ in the fight against breast cancer tonight with its third annual “Opry Goes Pink” show. ABC’s Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts, herself a breast cancer survivor, was on hand as a special guest announcer and introduced the Women Rock For The Cure™ Honorary Survivor of the Year Yolanda Smith. Opry member Martina McBride flipped the switch, turning the Opry’s signature barn backdrop “pink” in support of breast cancer awareness. McBride’s current single, “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” offers hope to those affected by cancer, and the powerful song is included on her Republic Nashville album, Eleven, released Oct. 11. Kellie Pickler turned the barn “pink” in the Opry’s second show of the evening. Additional performers tonight included Lauren Alaina, Edens Edge, Ronnie Milsap 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 Women Rock For The Cure (WRFTC)
Women Rock For The Cure™ is a Nashville-based non-profit organization founded in 2007 by four friends with ties to the music industry: Jensen (Sussman) Arrowsmith, Liz Lee Schullo, Rebekah Lee Beard and Tara Austin. Since then, WRFTC has worked to find new ways to increase breast cancer awareness locally and help raise money for the cause. WRFTC is pinker than ever and always rockin’ to reach the organization’s vision; to fight breast cancer by utilizing the passion, creativity and strength of the entertainment industry to find inspiring ways to raise money for local breast cancer related organizations, including the Greater Nashville Affiliate of Susan G. Komen For The Cure, as well as increase awareness among young women and men in their 20s, 30s, 40s. Flagship annual events include the Pink Trash Ball, Opry Goes Pink, and the annual Women Rock For The Cure benefit concert which has drawn standing-r oom-only crowds for the past three years. All proceeds raised benefit the ongoing efforts of the organization to help support breast cancer research and community outreach programs, including the WRFTC Young Survivors Retreat. The 2011 event was held September 23-25, in Franklin, TN, and helped connect young women from across the country who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. For additional information on Women Rock For The Cure™ upcoming events and how to get involved, please visit www.WomenRockForTheCure.org.

Opry members Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood,with special guest Alabama, performed on the Grand Ole Opry_® presented by Humana_®  on October 18.   Earlier that day for the first time ever, the Opry stage was the setting for a #1 celebration. The party recognized Paisley’s “Old Alabama,” with Alabama, and his duet with Underwood, “Remind Me.”

Additional superstars performing at the Opry this month include Martina McBride, Kellie Pickler, Lauren Alaina, and Ronnie Milsap on Oct. 22, as the Opry joins Women Rock For The Cure™ in the fight against breast cancer with its third annual “Opry Goes Pink” shows.  $5 from each ticket sold for the night’s two shows will benefit Women Rock For The Cure™.  A portion of the night’s first show will broadcast live on GAC at 8 p.m. Central.

The star-packed celebration month continues with Opry performances by Charlie Daniels Band, Clint Black, Keith Urban, Lee Greenwood, Little Big Town, 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.