Luke Bryan Reigns At Spring Break Panama City

BIDDER UP: GUITARS OF THE STARS BENEFIT AUCTION
TO RAISE FUNDS FOR FLOOD RELIEF JUNE 11

Luke Bryan, The Judds, Rascal Flatts Among Those Contributing
Decorated Guitars; Hit-maker Chris Young to Perform

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - (May 19, 2009)   A second annual Guitars of the Stars Benefit Auction Fri., June 11, 3 p.m. at the Ryman Auditorium will give fans in town for CMA Music Fest the unique opportunity to bid on acoustic guitars decorated by some of country music’s hottest stars. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Opry Trust Fund and will be earmarked for victims of this month’s Middle Tennessee floods.

Among the stars confirmed to contribute guitars they’ve designed in celebration of their current singles, hobbies, favorite country songs, or country music heroes are Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Danny Gokey, Alan Jackson, George Jones, The Judds, Jake Owen, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, and more. Other guitars up for bids will include a custom Gibson Ebony LP guitar to be signed by artists at the 2010 CMT Music Awards and a guitar designed by the artists on this spring’s Country Throwdown Tour.

RCA Nashville recording artist and back-to-back No. 1 hit-maker Chris Young will kick off the event with songs from his current album, THE MAN I WANT TO BE, followed by auction fun.  Young will also contribute a guitar personalized for a winning bidder that afternoon. GAC-TV and 650 WSM radio personality Bill Cody will be on hand as emcee.

The Opry Trust Fund has for more than 40 years assisted members of the country music community in need of help with medical bills, living expenses, utilities, rent, and food. Proceeds from this year’s auction will be earmarked to benefit victims of the floods that ravaged Middle Tennessee earlier this month.  

About the Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry presents the best in country music live every week fromNashville, 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 acrossAmerica 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