Martina McBride

ABC’s GOOD MORNING AMERICA CO-ANCHOR ROBIN ROBERTS TO GUEST ANNOUNCE AND PRESENT YOUNG SURVIVOR AS “OPRY GOES PINK” IN SUPPORT OF THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER
 
SECOND OPRY SHOW THIS SATURDAY IS NOW GOING PINK, TOO
 
NASHVILLE, Tenn.  (Oct. 17, 2011)  The Grand Ole Opry®, joining Women Rock For The Cure™ in the fight against breast cancer this Sat., Oct. 22 with its third annual “Opry Goes Pink” show, is getting some help from one of America’s favorite morning news program personalities.  ABC’s Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts, herself a breast cancer survivor, will be on hand as a special guest announcer for a portion of the night’s first show, introducing acts as well as the Women Rock For The Cure™ Honorary Survivor of the Year Yolanda Smith. Opry member Martina McBride will take the stage to “flip the switch,” turning the Opry’s signature barn backdrop pink in support of breast cancer awareness. McBride’s current single, “I’m Gonna Love Y ou Through It,” offers hope to those affected by cancer, and the powerful song is included on her Republic Nashville album, Eleven, released Oct. 11.
 
As of today, $5 from every ticket sold to the night’s second show (9:30 p.m.) will ALSO be donated to Women Rock For The Cure™. That show is scheduled to include performances from Lauren Alaina, Edens Edge, Kellie Pickler, Ronnie Milsap, and more as well as activities recognizing breast cancer survivors and the continuing fight against the disease. Tickets are available at (615) 871-OPRY and opry.com.
 
“Opry Goes Pink” will extend this year to the Opry’s social media. Fans can follow @opry and @MartinaMcBride on Twitter and share a message about the fight against cancer followed  by #LoveYouThroughIt.  Several of the messages will be selected to appear on the Opry’s barn screen during McBride’s performance. Opry.com is also scheduled to go pink through Oct. 22, and visitors to the site will also be able to visit an online pink auction, with all proceeds benefitting Women Rock For The Cure™.  Among the items to be available include one-of-a-kind Opry experiences and items autographed by artists participating in the “Opry Goes Pink” show.
 
The Grand Ole Opry® is presented by Humana®. Opry performances are held every weekend of the year, and the Tuesday Night Opry continues through Dec. 13.
 
About Robin Roberts
Robin Roberts is co-anchor of the Emmy Award-winning morning news program, “Good Morning America.” When not traveling around the world covering breaking news events, Roberts is at “GMA’s” studio in Times Square conducting interviews with a diverse group of newsmakers including President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, actor Sidney Poitier, basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on his battle with leukemia, Lisa Niemi on the loss of her beloved husband, Patrick Swayze, among others. She is also anchoring the third annual “In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts: All Access Nashville: airing November 8. Prior to joining ABC News, Roberts was an anchor and reporter at ESPN. Her assignments included hosting "SportsCenter” and Women’s National Basketball Association games and specials.  Roberts graduated cum laude from Southeastern Louisiana University with a BA in communications. She was th e third all-time leading scorer and rebounder on the school’s women's basketball team. A chapter in her book, From the Heart: Eight Rules to Live By, chronicles her journey since being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007
 
About the Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, 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 across America 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
 
About Women Rock For The Cure (WRFTC)
Women Rock For The Cure™ is a Nashville-based non-profit organization founded in 2007 by four friends with ties to the music industry: Jensen (Sussman) Arrowsmith, Liz Lee Schullo, Rebekah Lee Beard and Tara Austin. Since then, WRFTC has worked to find new ways to increase breast cancer awareness locally and help raise money for the cause. WRFTC is pinker than ever and always rockin’ to reach the organization’s vision; to fight breast cancer by utilizing the passion, creativity and strength of the entertainment industry to find inspiring ways to raise money for local breast cancer related organizations, including the Greater Nashville Affiliate of Susan G. Komen For The Cure, as well as increase awareness among young women and men in their 20s, 30s, 40s. Flagship annual events include the Pink Trash Ball, Opry Goes Pink, and the annual Women Rock For The Cure benefit concert which has drawn standin g-room-only crowds for the past three years. All proceeds raised benefit the ongoing efforts of the organization to help support breast cancer research and community outreach programs, including the WRFTC Young Survivors Retreat. The 2011 event was held September 23-25, in Franklin, TN, and helped connect young women from across the country who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. For additional information on Women Rock For The Cure™ upcoming events and how to get involved, please visit www.WomenRockForTheCure.org.