LOS ANGELES, April 7, 2009 — Country celebrities Carrie Underwood, recently named Entertainer of the Year at the 44th Academy of Country Music Awards, Vince Gill, Montgomery Gentry, Josh Turner and many others will step up to home plate at the 19th Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge on Wednesday, June 10, at 7 p.m. at Nashville’s Greer Stadium. Arch rival teams, Grand Ole Opry and “After MidNite with Blair Garner” return for an exciting evening of pranks, fun and softball. Tickets are $18 each and $40 for a family four pack. To purchase tickets for the 19th annual City of Hope Nashville Celebrity Softball Challenge, visit www.ticketmaster.com or call 615-255-9600.
 Photo of Vince Gill and Carrie Underwood |
Billed as the unofficial kick-off to CMA Music Fest, this year’s softball game will be held in the evening for the first time since its inception 19 years ago. Country’s hottest stars have filled the dugouts for almost two decades to benefit City of Hope, a leading research, education and treatment center for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The complete all-star line up will be announced in the coming weeks. There will be a silent auction during the game with autographed memorabilia as well as an online auction after the game at www.auctionsforhope.com.
“Last year, our team was lucky enough to savor the sweet taste of victory against The Grand Ole Opry's softball team,” said Blair Garner, creator, “After Midnight with Blair Garner.” “Like any Southern gentleman, I believe in second helpings. So bring that plate around one more time, boys. Daddy's got a Manwich appetite!”
“Rivalries aren’t built on the same team winning year after year,” said Pete Fisher, vice president and general manager, Grand Old Opry. “Since we felt the agony of defeat last year, we’re ready to launch another three-peat beginning in ’09. Everyone on the Opry team is looking forward to a big win, both for the Opry and for City of Hope, where researchers are accelerating treatments to help fight cancer and other life-threatening diseases.”
For more information on the 19th Annual City of Hope Nashville Celebrity Softball Challenge, visit www.cityofhope.org/softball.
To be considered for media credentials and cover the game, please e-mail your request and plans for editorial coverage to Claire Cook, CCookMedia@Comcast.net.
About “After MidNite with Blair Garner”
Blair Garner created “After MidNite with Blair Garner” over 15 years ago. He's one of the most successful air 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 for Nationally Syndicated Air Personality by Billboard. “After MidNite” is syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks and can be heard on nearly 250 stations from "MidNite" to 6 a.m. Gardner also created “The Blair Garner Show” in 2006, which can be heard on over 40 stations from 10 p.m. to ”MidNite.” For more information on both shows, visit www.blairgarner.com.
About Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn. A uniquely American experience for over 80 years, the Opry can be heard on 650 WSM-AM and www.opry.com. The syndicated weekly program, “America’s Grand Ole Opry Weekend,” airs on more than 200 country radio stations across the country and on the Armed Forces Radio Network, and “Opry Live” airs each weekend on Great American Country (GAC) and CMT Canada. 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 www.opry.com or www.gaylordentertainment.com.
