Ryman Auditorium

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Additional Press Releases

FEBRUARY 8, 2005

RYMAN AUDITORIUM NAMED POLLSTAR THEATRE OF THE YEAR FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR
Historic Venue Repeats Win of Prestigious National Award

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 8, 2005) – For the second consecutive year, Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium was named Theatre of the Year at the Annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards. The awards ceremony was held Friday night at the Wilburn Theatre in Los Angeles and was hosted by Comedian Lewis Black. The Ryman was among only five venues in the country nominated for the prestigious award. Other nominees included Universal Amphitheatre in Hollywood and Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The award was accepted by Ryman General Manager, Pam Matthews, and other members of the Ryman staff.

“Everyone at the Ryman is thrilled with this honor,” said Matthews. “And receiving the award for 2004 is especially meaningful as it was the 10th anniversary of the Ryman’s restoration. I feel this award is not only a tribute to a remarkable venue and to a professional and committed team, but also to the admirable decision to restore this historic landmark.”

Each year, concert industry professionals from around the world gather at the Pollstar Concert Industry Awards to honor those whose “contributions most enhance and enrich the live music experience.” The nominees are chosen by their concert business peers, a group comprised of executives from major booking agencies, concert promotion, facility and artist management, and record companies. Other venues honored this year included Madison Square Garden which was named Arena of the Year and London’s Royal Albert Hall which took home the award for International Small Venue of the Year. Artist Prince walked away with two Pollstar awards: Major Tour of the Year and Most Creative Stage Production. Other winning artists included Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, and Josh Groban.

Originally built as a church in 1892, by the turn of the century the Ryman had transformed itself into one of the South’s premier performance halls and had launched a tradition of showcasing a wide variety of entertainment genres. Over the next half century, the Ryman stage attracted performances by legends ranging from stars of the silver screen such as Rudolph Valentino and Charlie Chaplin to famed composers such as Edward Strauss and Sergei Rachmaninov. The stage also hosted Opera stars like famed African American contralto Marian Anderson and Vaudeville personalities such as humorist and cowboy singer Will Rogers. Later, during the Grand Ole Opry’s stay from 1943-1974, the building gained nationwide recognition as the “Mother Church of Country Music,” when pioneering performers such as Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, and Patsy Cline helped shape country and bluegrass music from the Ryman stage.

In 2004, the Ryman stayed true to its traditions, featuring an eclectic concert schedule which included sold-out performances by R.E.M., Merle Haggard, Carole King, Moe, Ryan Adams, the Pixies, John Prine, Larry the Cable Guy, Erykah Badu, and Keith Urban. The Ryman begins 2005 with a diverse line-up that includes concerts by rock & roll icon Elvis Costello, country legend George Jones, neo-soul diva Jill Scott, and CMA Male Vocalist of the Year Keith Urban, who is back in 2005 with a three night sold-out engagement. “For me,” says Urban, “the Ryman is a magical place. Music just sounds and feels right there, and I've been fortunate enough to not only perform there many times, but to also witness some extraordinary nights sitting out front on those old wooden pews. From Merle Haggard to Coldplay, a concert at the Ryman is quite simply a beautiful musical experience.”

About the Ryman Auditorium
A National Historic Landmark, the Ryman Auditorium was built as a church in 1892, served as the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943-74, and was completely renovated in 1994. The Ryman, voted one of the Top Ten “Best Live Music Venues” in the nation by Citysearch patrons, continues its more-than-100-year music tradition by offering the best in live entertainment. The Ryman Auditorium is owned by Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a Nashville-based hospitality and entertainment company that owns and operates Gaylord Hotels, the Grand Ole Opry and ResortQuest International. For more information, visit www.ryman.com or www.gaylordentertainment.com.

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Ryman Auditorium

Marketing & PR Coordinator: Lisaann Dupont, (615) 458-8715 or email

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