Bill Monroe Bluegrass Celebration set for Sept. 30

Some of bluegrass music’s most awarded acts will take the stage as the Grand Ole Opry® presented by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® presents the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Celebration Tues., Sept. 30. This year’s Celebration features 2008 IBMA Entertainer of the Year nominees The Del McCoury Band, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Grascals, and Daily & Vincent as well as the Infamous Stringdusters, The Steeldrivers, Jesse McReynolds & the Virginia Boys, and James Monroe.

The Bill Monroe Bluegrass Celebration is the latest in the Opry’s Signature Show Series and falls during the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) World Of Bluegrass event and Bluegrass Fan Fest held in Nashville Sept 29 - Oct. 5.

The Opry’s long-standing fall bluegrass show was renamed the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Celebration after Monroe’s death in 1996. Monroe, who influenced generations of bluegrass artists and is known worldwide as the “Father of Bluegrass,” is a member of the Bluegrass Hall of Honor and both the Country Music and Rock ‘N’ Roll Halls of Fame.

The Grand Ole Opry® is presented by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store®. Among other artists appearing at the Opry this fall are Charlie Daniels Band, Little Big Town, Patty Loveless, Loretta Lynn, Kellie Pickler, Jessica Simpson, Marty Stuart, Josh Turner, Keith Urban, and Wynonna. Opry performances are held every weekend of the year, and the Tuesday Night Opry continues through Dec. 16. To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or log on to www.opry.com.

About the Grand Ole OpryThe Grand Ole Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn. A uniquely American experience for more than 80 years, the Opry can be heard on 650 WSM-AM, XM Satellite Radio, and 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 GAC: Great American Country 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 opry.com or www.gaylordentertainment.com