HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 09: Actress/singer Dolly Parton attends the Premiere Of Warner Bros. Pictures' 'Joyful Noise' at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on January 9, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Gaylord Entertainment and Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Company are entering a 50/50 joint venture to develop a 114-acre family entertainment zone adjacent to the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, reports MusicRow.com. The Dollywood Company will serve as the operating partner of the as-yet-unnamed outfit.

Phase one of the project is an 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 2014.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean joined Dolly and Gaylord Entertainment Chairman and CEO Colin V. Reed at today’s announcement at the Grand Ole Opry House at Gaylord Opryland.

The water and snow park will anchor the project, which will include 35-acres set aside 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.

“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.” Continue Reading

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Scripps Networks Interactive check presentation (l to r:) Ellen Lehman, president CFMT, Ed Hardy, president GAC, GAC’s Storme Warren, Suzanne Alexander, Food Network’s Pat Neely, Gina Neely, HGTV’s Vern Yip, Travel Channel’s Samantha Brown, Adam Richman. Credit: Ed Rode/edrode.biz

From large corporations to small kids, their goal was the same: help middle Tennesseans rebuild after devastating floods. Donations from Sunday night’s live concert event and telethon, Music City Keep on Playin’ – A Benefit for Flood Relief on Great American Country Television, have reached $1.8 million and that amount will grow as donations made at www.gactv.com/help and through a texting component will continue through this Sunday, May 23.

With an all-volunteer production staff, crew and talent line-up, 100% of the money raised is going to help those most affected by what has been estimated to be $1.5 billion in damages.  Organizers GAC, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau and Gaylord Entertainment incurred all necessary expenses tied to the event.

The televised concert included performances by Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Sheryl Crow, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Rodney Atkins, Martina McBride, Kellie Pickler, CeCe Winans, Keb’ Mo’, Jaci Velasquez, Randy Montana and Will Hoge.  NASCAR stars Tony Stewart and Clint Bowyer also appeared. Hosts James Denton and Kimberly Williams-Paisley were joined by on-air personalities from GAC, Food Network, The Travel Channel and HGTV. Stars also spent time manning phone banks alongside a fleet of volunteers. Click here to see photos from the night.

Music City Keep on Playin’ – A Benefit for Flood Relief will re-air tomorrow, Thursday, May 20, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m./Eastern on GAC. Phones will be open during the re-air and donations can also still be made at www.gactv.com/help or by texting “GAC” to 501501 to make a $10 donation to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Continue Reading

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Sheryl Crow will perform at the Music City Keep On Playin' benefit concert presented by GAC on Sunday, May 16 at 8p ET.

Sheryl Crow has just been added to the incredible list of performers for GAC’s Music City Keep on Playin’ - A Benefit for Flood Relief, a live concert and telethon to aid middle Tennesseans affected by the recent flood disaster.  The concert and telethon will be aired live and commercial-free from Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium this Sunday, May 16, 8:00 – 11:00 p.m. Eastern (live in all time zones) on GAC and will re-air at 11:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.  The concert will also be available online via a live stream at GACTV.com/help.  Plus, the event will be carried live on Sirius/XM satellite radio.

Artists previously announced to perform include Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Martina McBride, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Kellie Pickler, Rodney Atkins, CeCe Winans, Jaci Velasquez, Keb’ Mo’, Randy Montana and Will Hoge. Continue Reading

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GAC presents Music City Keep On Playin' - A Benefit for Flood Relief

Keith Urban, Martina McBride and Keb’ Mo’ have been added to the list of performers for Music City Keep on Playin’ - A Benefit for Flood Relief, the first national live concert and telethon to aid middle Tennesseans affected by the recent flood disaster.  The concert and telethon will be aired live and commercial-free from Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium this Sunday, May 16, 8:00 – 11:00 p.m. Eastern (live in all time zones) on Great American Country Television (GAC) and will re-air at 11:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.  You’ll also be able to watch the concert streaming live online at GACTV.com.  The event will also be carried live on Sirius/XM satellite radio.

Due to overwhelming support from the Nashville music community, a third hour has been added to the live telecast.

Artists previously announced to perform include Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Kellie Pickler, Rodney Atkins, CeCe Winans, Jaci Velasquez, Randy Montana and Will Hoge. Continue Reading

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The front of the Grand Ole Opry House is under several feet of water as a result of the flooding Cumberland River caused by storms in Nashville, TN on May 1-2, 2010.

The first national telethon and concert event to raise money to aid victims of last weekend’s flooding disaster in middle Tennessee has been announced by Great American Country Television, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau and Gaylord Entertainment.  Music City Keep on Playin’ – A Benefit for Flood Relief will air commercial-free on GAC, Sunday, May 16, 8– 10 p.m. Eastern. 

Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Rodney Atkins and additional artists will perform live at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium while celebrities will host and join other volunteers to man phone banks to collect call-in donations.  Continue Reading

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