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"OUR COUNTRY" Celebrates Country Music's Heritage
Featuring Performances By Country's Brightest Artists
Film’s World Premiere Scheduled for June 25 in Nashville
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 16, 2003) – Our Country, a film celebrating the heritage of country music and filled with performances by country’s most recognizable stars, will debut in IMAX and other large-format theatres nationwide this summer. The world premiere of the film will take place on Wednesday, June 25 at the Regal Opry Mills IMAX Theatre in Nashville, where it will open to the public on June 27. Many artists in the film will attend the invitation-only premiere.
Gaylord Entertainment and the Grand Ole Opry provided financial backing for the film. According to Steve Buchanan, Gaylord Entertainment’s senior vice president of media and entertainment, the idea of bringing the history of country music to the large-format screen was first conceived in 2000. “Our Country brings to life the significance of country music as a reflection of American culture and heritage,” Buchanan said. “The artists and the film production team have created an extraordinary work that is not only visually stunning with an exceptional score, but also highly entertaining.”
Steven Goldmann, whose credits include music videos by Faith Hill (“This Kiss”), Alan Jackson (“I’ll Go On Loving You,” “Drive”), and Shania Twain (“You Win My Love,” “I’m Outta Here”), directed the majority of the film. Goldmann’s work traces the growth of country music as it mirrored key events in the social and political development of America – from the first immigrants who brought their native music to the United States through the expansion west, the Great Depression, World War II, the rise of industrialism and the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001. Keith Melton provided additional direction.
“When I set out to make this, it was my love letter to the community and the music,” Goldmann said. “I think we accomplished that goal one hundred-fold. I am so honored that so many artists chose to be part of this film. It means a lot to me personally, and I hope that I’ve made all of them proud.”
Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Tom Neff wrote and produced Our Country, which is narrated by Hal Holbrook. Randy Scruggs provided the original score and music production.
“Our Country is a celebration of the diversity of America as a result of the influx of outside music and cultures,” Neff said. “Our Country is a way of teaching history through a medium that today’s youth understands – film and entertainment. With films like Our Country, we can help make a difference in education about America and its history. We can show how the United States has been influenced by unique people from all walks of life who have contributed to the fabric of the nation.”
Filming of Our Country took place in locations from coast to coast in the United States, as well as the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, Ireland. Performances by country music’s brightest artists were filmed in such varied settings as the canyons of Utah, the mountains of Appalachia, the heart of Texas, the Cumberland River, the world-famous Grand Ole Opry stage, the historic Ryman Auditorium, and the deserts of California. Featured artists include: Alabama, Asleep at the Wheel, Guy Clark, Charlie Daniels, Sara Evans, Radney Foster, Vince Gill, Eric Heatherly, Alan Jackson, Hal Ketchum, Alison Krauss, Patty Loveless, Lyle Lovett, Loretta Lynn, Kathy Mattea, Martina McBride, Jo Dee Messina, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Dolly Parton, Marty Stuart, Pam Tillis, Lee Ann Womack, Trisha Yearwood, and Dwight Yoakam, among others.
In addition to Nashville, Our Country will open in July in IMAX and other large-format theatres in Kansas City, Dallas, Myrtle Beach, and Palm Desert, Ca., before rolling out across the country this fall. Giant Screen Films is the distributor.
About Gaylord Entertainment
Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a leading hospitality and entertainment company based in Nashville, Tenn., owns and operates Gaylord Hotels branded properties, including the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville and the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Fla., and the Radisson Hotel Opryland in Nashville. The company’s entertainment brands include the Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium, the General Jackson Showboat, the Springhouse Golf Club, the Wildhorse Saloon and WSM-AM. For more information about the company, visit www.gaylordentertainment.com.
The Ryman Auditorium is a property of Gaylord Entertainment, a leading hospitality and entertainment company based in Nashville, Tenn. Gaylord Entertainment also owns and operates Gaylord Hotels branded properties including the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center and the Radisson Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn., and the Gaylord Pam Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Fla. The company’s entertainment brands include the Grand Ole Opry, Acuff-Rose Music Publishing, the General Jackson Showboat, the Springhouse Golf Club, the Wildhorse Saloon, and WSM and WWTN Radio. Gaylord Entertainment's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GET. For more information about the company visit www.gaylordentertainment.com.
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