OPRY COUNTRY CLASSICS HOSTED BY LARRY GATLIN
RETURNS TO RYMAN AUDITORIUM

Season Kicks Off with Salutes to the Sounds of Bakersfield March 29
and the Women of Country Music April 5

Charlie Daniels Band, Loretta Lynn, Mel Tillis Among this Season’s Spotlight Artists

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - (March 20, 2012) - The unforgettable songs traditional country music fans love most are set to take the stage of the historic Ryman Auditorium in the return of Opry Country Classics Thursdays March 29 – May 24. Grammy-winner Larry Gatlin returns as show host each week, welcoming artists who’ll perform their own country hits as well as timeless favorites by the likes of Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, and more.

The first show of the season helps celebrate the opening of the new Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum exhibition The Bakersfield Sound: Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and California Country! Among those performing during the kick-off show will be Gatlin, Elizabeth Cook, Jim Lauderdale, Chuck Mead, and Leona Williams. The following week, Thursday, April 5, host Gatlin will welcome some of country’s all-time favorite female voices for a special “Women of Country” Opry Country Classics. Among those performing will be CMA award-winners Lynn Anderson, Janie Fricke, Lorrie Morgan, and Pam Tillis.

Several Spotlight Artists will headline Opry Country Classics shows later in the season, each performing a number of memorable classics. Among this spring’s Spotlight Artists are The Time Jumpers (April 19), Marty Stuart (April 26), Charlie Daniels Band (May 3), Mel Tillis (May 10), and Loretta Lynn (May 17).

Opry Country Classics tickets as well as money-saving ticket combos including admission to both Thursday night Opry Country Classics shows and Tuesday, Friday, or Saturday Grand Ole Opry shows are available by visiting opry.com or by calling 615-871-OPRY or 800-SEE-OPRY.