The show that made country music famous is scheduled to salute heroes of the U.S. military with all-star performances Tuesday, May 22. Performers slated for the evening include Opry members Rascal Flatts, Montgomery Gentry, and Ronnie Milsap, along with Kellie Pickler.  

“This show continues the Opry’s long and very important tradition of recognizing our nation’s armed forces with a hail and ‘thank you’,” said Opry vice president and general manager Pete Fisher. “Country music is America’s music, and we look forward to some of our most talented country artists coming home to the Opry to play America’s music for the nation’s heroes-- both those in the Opry House Tuesday night and those who will tune in to broadcasts later in the week.”

The show will air as the premiere 90-minute episode of “Noteworthy at the Opry” on GAC: Great American Country Sat., May 26 9:00 p.m. ET. The 16-episode series will feature musical performances and personal stories from top acts in country music plus interviews with other celebrities about the artists and music featured in each episode.

“Noteworthy at the Opry” is sponsored by Dish Network, and the premiere episode is co-sponsored by Opry presenting sponsor Humana_®. Humana recently launched a “Veterans Initiative” – committing to hiring 1,000 military veterans over a three-year period while also contributing $1 million to the national Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV). The EBV, founded at Syracuse University in 2007, will be featured as part of this special “Noteworthy at the Opry” telecast.

The special show will also be seen by U.S. military around the world via the American Forces Television Network.

Click here for tickets for Tuesday, May 22.

The onstage announcement and performance mirrored the 1979 Grand Ole Opry appearance where Ms. Lynn invited a young Sissy Spacek onstage to announce that she had chosen the actress to portray her in the forthcoming film.  Ms. Spacek went on to win the Academy Award for her performance.

“It’s a long way from Butcher Holler to Broadway in New York City. I never imagined I’d see Coal Miner’s Daughter on a movie screen, and now I can’t believe it’s going to be on a stage for people to see,” says Ms. Lynn. “I’m going to be right there in the front row. And I know Zooey is going to be great – she sings and writes her own songs just like I do, and we even have the same color eyes!”

“Loretta Lynn and her music have been inspirations for me for as long as I can remember,” said Ms. Deschanel.  “She is a true legend and to be chosen to play such an iconic woman is a dream come true.”

The Broadway-bound stage version of Coal Miner’s Daughter will tell the remarkable story of country music legend Loretta Lynn, from her impoverished Kentucky childhood to her unlikely and triumphant rise to become the First Lady of Country Music and one of the greatest women of her generation. 

Coal Miner’s Daughter will be brought to the stage by two of Broadway’s most prolific, Tony Award-winning producers, Fox Theatricals (Kristin Caskey and Mike Isaacson) and Scott Sanders Productions, which have collectively brought some of the biggest hits to the stage, including Legally Blonde, The Color Purple, Red, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Death of a Salesman with Brian Dennehy, Elaine Stritch: At Liberty, and the current revival of Evita starring Ricky Martin.

“We’re proud to support City of Hope in its fight against cancer,” said Pete Fisher, vice president and general manager, Grand Ole Opry. “City of Hope’s groundbreaking and innovative research benefits people everywhere.”

“This game is a unique event during the CMA Music Festival, where we bring artists and fans together in order to give hope to people living with cancer,” said Blair Garner, creator of ‘After MidNite with Blair Garner.’ “We expect to continue our winning streak this year and encourage all of our fans and the Nashville community to join us in this effort by attending the game and watching their favorite stars step up to the plate.”

Presented by Staples, this year’s game marks the 22^nd year that Nashville’s power hitters have gone to bat for City of Hope, a leading research, treatment and education center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. The Celebrity Softball Challenge has raised more than $2 million for City of Hope, enabling scientists to advance research and improve treatments for patients and families everywhere. In addition to Carrie Underwood, Scotty McCreery, Brantley Gilbert, Lauren Alaina, David Nail, James Otto, Robin Meade and Scott Hamilton, Chuck Wicks, Whitney Duncan, Bucky Covington, Sarah Darling, Billy Gilman, Kristen Kelly and Two Foot Fred will take to the field for the highly anticipated game between longtime rivals Grand Ole Opry and After MidNite with Blair Garner. Additional sponsors include PEOPLE Country, as presenting media sponsor, and Humana.

“As a two-time survivor of acute myeloid leukemia, I will forever be connected to City of Hope as a patient, and fight with them to find the lifesaving treatments that have saved my life and so many others,” said Nicole Schulz, Miss California Teen United States 2010, City of Hope supporter and longtime Celebrity Softball Challenge attendee. “I’m so excited to share my story and personal experience, and be part of this year’s game with so many amazing people who are committed to helping City of Hope advance its research and strike out cancer. I look forward to this event every year.”

“Staples is honored to serve as the presenting sponsor of the Celebrity Softball Challenge,” said Ron Sargent, Staples chairman and chief executive officer. “We believe continued education and building awareness are essential in helping City of Hope in its efforts to find a cure for the millions of people living with cancer.”

“The Nashville community has been a longtime star player in supporting our mission to advance cancer research and treatments that change the game for millions of patients and families worldwide,” said Michael A. Friedman, M.D., president and chief executive officer of City of Hope. “We are grateful for the generous commitment of Staples, CMA, celebrity players and fans for helping us have the resources to develop lifesaving treatments at City of Hope.”

For more information about the 22^nd annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge presented by Staples, visit www.cityofhope.org/softball. To purchase tickets to the most fun-filled game in town, visit www.ticketmaster.com. All ticket sales benefit City of Hope.

Paisley continues the Plaza fun tradition for the third year with “The Escape” – a fun-filled outdoor plaza area with games, contests, photo ops, food vendors, and performance stage.  Continuing with the tour theme there will be a “Virtual Opry” stage that incorporates a futuristic Grand Ole Opry backdrop and signature mic stands. Performing on the stage starting at 5:00pm will be Kristen Kelly, Jana Kramer and Love and Theft. All three artists will be signing autographs immediately following the performances on the “Virtual Opry” stage.

Other elements of “The Escape” include Virtual Reality World Tour Escape the Lawn Lucky Seats Game where fans can win sponsor prizes and ticket upgrades and Air Force Reserves Flight Commander Challenge with fans throwing airplanes through targets for prizes.  Activities throughout “The Escape” plaza area include Air Force Reserves mock jet plane photo station, Mossy Oak Camo-Jam Snapshot Station and Camo Cabanas, slip n slide and inflatables.  There will be an “Escape” emcee that will be playing games and passing out prizes to the fans. Sea Ray Boats will host an outdoor boat display. More information on “The Escape” and the “Virtual Opry” stage artists and show times can be found at www.facebook.com/BradPaisleyTour or on twitter @BradPaisleyTour.

Select venues will be collecting food for local food banks with one lucky person winning a meet and greet with Paisley.

• Thursday, May 10 (Opry Country Classics): Spotlight Artists Loretta Lynn and Mel Tillis, host Larry Gatlin, and more.

• Saturday, May 12: Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Scotty McCreery, and more. Second show (9:30 p.m.) added.

• Tuesday, May 15: Ricky Skaggs’ 30^th Opry Anniversary featuring Ricky Skaggs, Alison Krauss, Josh Turner, Dailey & Vincent, and more.
  
  
• Tuesday, May 22: Rascal Flatts, Montgomery Gentry, Kellie Pickler, Ronnie Milsap, Craig Morgan, and more.

The Grand Ole Opry is hatching a high-tech egg hunt via Twitter this Friday with prizes from the Opry and top country artists up for grabs. Prize eggs will be hidden around the Opry’s hometown of Nashville as well as in other locations in the U.S., and fans will find clues to the eggs’ hiding spots by following @opry and Egg Hunt radio partners @WSMradio, @98WSIX, and @955FMWSM on Twitter throughout the day Friday.

Among the prizes up for grabs from the Opry and several partner country radio stations are tickets to see Martina McBride and others at the Opry later this month, Opry Backstage Tour tickets, and Opry merchandise autographed by Trace Adkins, Kellie Pickler, George Jones, and many more.

Fans who can’t go on the cross-country hunt will be able to enter to win other prizes Friday by searching for virtual eggs online at opry.com.

Click here for more details.

Casey James will sign copies of his self-titled debut CD in The Opry Shop Tuesday, April 24! Meet him from 5:30-6:30 pm and pick up a copy of the CD that features his debut single "Let's Don't Call It A Night," and more!

Click here to purchase tickets to Keith's Opry member induction on Saturday, April 21!

Grammy, CMA and ACM Award-winner Keith Urban was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry this evening by Opry member Vince Gill along with fellow members Rascal Flatts, Diamond Rio and Oak Ridge Boys during Urban’s “All For The Hall” benefit at Bridgestone Arena.  New Zealand-born and Australian-raised Urban will be the first artist from outside North America to become an Opry member.  He will formally be inducted into the Opry on Sat., April 21 live on the premiere of “NOTEWORTHY at the Opry” on GAC at 8 p.m. Central.  The 16-episode series will feature musical performances and personal stories from the top acts in country music plus interviews with other celebrities about the artists and music featured in each episode.

Near the end of tonight’s show, Gill called Rascal Flatts back out on stage to bring a gift for Urban.  As Urban opened a large black duffel bag revealing the Opry’s signature microphone stand, Gill said, “We would like to invite Keith Urban to be the next member of the Grand Ole Opry!”  Urban covered his face in surprise as he began, “I don’t know what to say – but first, YES! Thank you very much to everybody at the Grand Ole Opry who made this possible.  I’m shocked. How beautiful for this to happen tonight of all nights.”

“I will always remember the first time I played the Opry,” Urban continued, “seeing this stand and standing in the circle was an extraordinarily surreal moment. So this right here is just a whole other stratosphere! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

“We are extremely excited that another of today’s most popular country music superstars will be joining our Opry family,” said Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher. “Keith has become a master at forging a unique musical path and building an incredibly successful career. He generates amazing enthusiasm from fans every time he plays the Opry, and he continuously demonstrates the deep regard he has both for the Opry and the entire country music community.”

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 millions 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 28 Top 5 hits.  His latest CD, Get Closer, comes on the heels of his fifth consecutive platinum or multi-platinum release.  It has produced three consecutive #1s, “You Gonna Fly”, “Long Hot Summer” and “Without You”.

In 2009, Urban was named radio’s most played country artist, thanks to #1 hits such as “Sweet Thing,” “You’ll Think Of Me,” “Only You Can Love Me This Way,” “Better Life” and “Days Go By.”  In addition, his 2002 smash “Somebody Like You” was named the #1 Country Song of the Decade by Nielsen BDS (based on radio airplay and audience impressions).

The Grand Ole Opry_® is presented by Humana_®.  Opry performances are held every weekend of the year and on Tuesdays through Dec. 11.  To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or visit opry.com.