Nashville, Tennessee – (May 27, 2015) – The Grand Ole Opry and iHeart Radio are readying their rosters as they prepare to strike out cancer at the City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game. More than 25 music and sports stars will step up to the plate for this 25^thanniversary event, taking place June 13 from the new First Tennessee Park during CMA Music Festival. Tickets are available now at http://bit.ly/csg15pr.

Country standouts Angie Johnson, Bret Michaels, Bucky Covington, Deana Carter, JT Hodges, Phil Vassar and The Bobby Bones Show, along with Titans cornerback Perrish Cox and current and former Nashville Predators players Seth Jones and Stu Grimson, will play alongside previously announced participants Aaron Watson, Charles Esten, Chuck Wicks, Lauren Alaina, Lindsay Ell, Little Big Town, Love and Theft, and Vince Gill to strike out cancer with City of Hope. Winning StageIt performers SaraBethand Doug McCormick will also take to the field for the anniversary event. CMT After Midnite’s Cody Alan and The Crook and Chase Countdown’s Lorianne Crook will emcee and offer play-by-plays for the thousands of fans in attendance.

Team Opry: Aaron Watson, Bucky Covington, Charles Esten, Chuck Wicks, Deana Carter, Eric Gunderson (Love And Theft), JT Hodges, Jimi Westbrook (Little Big Town), Kimberly Schlapman (Little Big Town), Phil Vassar, SaraBeth, Stu Grimson and Vince Gill.

Team iHeart Radio: Angie Johnson, Bret Michaels, Doug McCormick, Karen Fairchild (Little Big Town), Lauren Alaina, Lindsay Ell, Perrish Cox, Phillip Sweet (Little Big Town), Seth Jones, Stephen Barker Liles (Love And Theft) plus The Bobby Bones Show’s Bobby Bones, Eddie and Lunchbox.

Joining the lineup is Music City native Stephen Bess, who received lifesaving treatment for acute lymphocytic leukemia more than two years ago at City of Hope. He and his genetically matched stem cell donor, who reside nine time zones apart, will meet for the very first time in a special ceremony before taking the field for the 25th Annual Celebrity Softball Game.

A pioneer in the treatment of bone and blood marrow diseases, City of Hope has performed more than 12,000 lifesaving bone marrow transplants. It also is a leading biomedical research institute for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses. The City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game, presented by Staples and sponsored by PEOPLE Country, raises funds for that research.

Each year, the Celebrity Softball Game regularly features some of Country Music’s biggest and hottest stars. Over the years, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Scotty McCreery, Vince Gill and many more have taken to the field in support of City of Hope’s lifesaving mission.

City of Hope is an independent biomedical research institution and comprehensive cancer center where scientists and physicians quickly transform scientific discoveries into better treatments and prevention strategies for people around the world. Support from the Nashville community and its country music artists directly benefit City of Hope’s mission to find cures for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.

Tickets for the game can be purchased through Ticketmaster. Get more information on the game and the line-up of celebrities at www.cityofhope.org/softball. Those not able to attend the game can still support the cause. A variety of unique merchandise and experiences, including meet-and-greets with the hottest artists, will be available for bid at charitybuzz.com. The proceeds will benefit City of Hope’s mission to eradicate cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Learn more about the game HERE. To request media credentials for the 25^th Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game, apply HERE.

Suggested Tweet: Teams @iHeartRadio vs @opry are readying rosters to #strikeoutcancer @cityofhope Celeb Softball Game 6/13 @firsttnpark get tixhttp://bit.ly/csg15pr

About City of Hope
City of Hope is an independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as a comprehensive cancer center, the highest recognition bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, City of Hope is also a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, with research and treatment protocols that advance care throughout the nation. City of Hope’s main hospital is located in Duarte, California, just northeast of Los Angeles. It is ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” in cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation and genetics.

School is letting out for a few months; dads are firing up the bar-be-cues; pools, lakes and beaches will be packed with families celebrating warm days together. It’s the unofficial kick-off to summer…and it’s Memorial Day Weekend.

Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War. However, by the turn of the 20th century, Memorial Day celebrated Americans who have sacrificed their lives in all wars. The holiday also typically marks the start of the summer vacation season.

Some of your favorite country artists talk about their favorite summertime activities – besides traveling around and performing for fans – as well as what it means to be free because of the brave men and women willing to fight and sacrifice for our freedom.

Eric Church (Memorial Day) OC: …those freedoms.
It’s about, especially the soldiers I come in contact with on the road. And not only that, to be able to make the music that I’m able to make, to say what I want to say, and that freedom to be able to do those things and to be in a country where we’re able to do that and to be in a country where we’re able to play that stuff on the radio. I don’t think you’re going to have any America argue that America isn’t the best place to live, and I’m certainly one of them. I’m very proud to be from here and very proud that we have the soldiers. I know there are a lot of other countries out there in the world that don’t want to live the way we do, and that’s fine, they can keep living the way they are, but I’m very proud of it. I think that’s a time to celebrate being proud to be an American and celebrate those freedoms…and celebrate the people that are over fighting for those freedoms.”

Lady Antebellum will kick off the CMT Music Awards nominations announcement by revealing the nominees for Female Video of the Year and Male Video of the Year on NBC’s Today Wednesday (May 13th) during the 8am ET hour. The Grammy-winning group, who will perform their new single “Long Stretch of Love,” will also announce the Video of the Year nominees at Today.com.

Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood are also set to join the CMT Music Awards fun by announcing Best Group Video of the Year and Breakthrough Video of the Year on their social media accounts Wednesday (May 13th).

Vince Gill is among the artists performing at the Grand Ole Opry’s Salute the Troops show May 19th. Trace Adkins, Kellie Pickler will also perform.

Scotty McCreery and Easton Corbin will hit the Grand Ole Opry stage June 9th as the Opry kicks off its CMA Music Fest Week. Carrie Underwood, Del McCoury and many others will also perform.

Little Big Town will cut the ribbon on the opening day of Fan Fair X at the 2015 CMA Music Festival, running June 11th through 14th at the Music City Center in Nashville. After the opening, Little Big Town will be featured as the Fan Fair X Artist of the Day and answer fan questions at the CMA Close Up stage. Hunter Hayes is the Artist of the Day on Friday, followed by Chris Young on Saturday and Darius Rucker Sunday.

Some of your favorite country stars will be celebrating Mother’s Day on Sunday (May 10th). Check out Mother’s Day memories and moments from our artists, including Alan Jackson, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Eric Paslay, Jon Pardi, Keith Urban, Lady A, Little Big Town and Shania Twain, among many others.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 1, 2015) – As announced by Billboard and dick clark productions, GRAMMY Award-winning group Little Big Town is slated to perform their latest smash single, “Girl Crush,” on this month’s Billboard Music Awards. The haunting lead vocals from Karen Fairchild will be paired with special guest, superstar Faith Hill, to add another powerful dimension to the heart-wrenching ballad. The awards air Live from Las Vegas May 17th at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

“Girl Crush” saw record sales last week following Little Big Town’s performance on the Academy of Country Music Awards. Once again, the ACM Vocal Group of the Year sees record-setting sales figures on their current Top 20 single. Clearing a 13% sales growth taking the weekly total to over 109,500 tracks, this marks the second straight week “Girl Crush” has set the largest one-week sales figure for a Country track in 2015.  It is also the No. 3 most-downloaded song across all genres.  Overall sales for the song currently top 630,000, and while sales are moving faster than the paperwork, “Girl Crush” is also now officially RIAA-certified GOLD. (The single qualified for Gold recognition after last week’s sales high.)

“Girl Crush” is the follow-up single to Little Big Town’s No. 1, Gold-selling single, “Day Drinking,” off the group’s ACM-nominated Album of the Year, Pain Killer (Capitol Records).

To preview and purchase “Girl Crush” and Pain Killer, click HERE.

For more information on Little Big Town, visit www.LittleBigTown.com.

New York, N.Y. – May 1, 2015 – Darius Rucker and Jennifer Nettles will host the 2015 iHeartRadio Country Festival, bringing together Country music’s biggest superstars all on one stage at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas on Saturday, May 2nd. This year’s incredible lineup will feature Darius, Little Big Town, Dierks Bentley, Sam Hunt, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Brantley Gilbert, Justin Moore, The Band Perry and Tyler Farr, as well as special guest appearances by Bobby Bones, Big & Rich, Cody Alan, Brooklyn Decker, Craig Robinson, Eric Decker and Jessie James Decker.

The iHeartRadio Country Festival will video stream live exclusively on Yahoo Live, where fans have the freedom to stream the concert for free wherever they are through the Yahoo Screen App for iOS and Android, and on connected devices including Apple TV, Roku, XBox, Tivo and www.yahoo.com/iheartcountry.  It will also broadcast live on iHeartMedia Country radio stations across the U.S. on Saturday, May 2nd at 7 p.m. CT. NBC will televise the iHeartRadio Country Festival on NBC Wednesday, May 27th from 9-11 p.m. ET/ 8-10 p.m. CT.

“I am thrilled to host the iHeartRadio Country Music Festival and celebrate our beautiful country community of music and musicians,” said Nettles.  “I’m excited to share the stage with some of the biggest names in country music. It’s going to be a wonderful night in the great town of Austin and I look forward to being a part of it.”

“Growing up in South Carolina, I would lay in bed at night listening to all kinds of music and commentary from deejays on the air. It actually led me to go into sports broadcasting in college, so I have always wanted an opportunity to try my skills at being one of those commentators. I can’t think of a better opportunity to talk directly to the fans — and bring them some great music — than co-hosting this fantastic night with some really awesome friends,” said Rucker.

Proud partners of this year’s event include Bud Light, Firestone®, Mtn Dew® DEWshine™, NBC, State Farm® and Tito’s Handmade Vodka.

Tickets are on sale now at TexasBoxOffice.com and for more information visit iHeartRadio.com/countryfestival. The iHeartRadio Country Festival is an iHeartMedia Production.

Nashville, Tennessee – (April 30, 2015) – The stars are aligning for the 25^th Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game, a fan favorite event and longstanding tradition of CMA Music Festival! Suiting up to play in this year’s game are “Nashville” star and singer/songwriter Charles Esten; “Stealing Cinderella” singer and national radio morning show co-host Chuck Wicks; rising country star and “American Idol” finalist Lauren Alaina; guitar slayer and country music vocalist Lindsay Ell; reigning ACM and CMA Vocal Group of the Year Little Big Town; and hitmakers Love and Theft.  After a twenty-year run playing in the City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game, country music icon Vince Gill is returning to the field for this special milestone event. The full line-up of celebrity players stepping up to the plate on the Grand Ole Opry and iHeartRadio teams will be announced in the coming weeks.

Taking place on June 13 at 9 a.m. from the state-of-the-art field at First Tennessee Park in Nashville, Tennessee, the City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game is gearing up to celebrate 25 years of striking out cancer. Tickets for the City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game are on sale now at Ticketmaster.

Each year, the Celebrity Softball Game regularly features some of Country Music’s biggest and hottest stars. Over the years, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Scotty McCreery, Vince Gill and many more have taken to the field in support of City of Hope’s lifesaving mission.

City of Hope is an independent biomedical research institution and comprehensive cancer center where scientists and physicians quickly transform scientific discoveries into better treatments and prevention strategies for people around the world. Support from the Nashville community and its country music artists directly benefit City of Hope’s mission to find cures for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.

Tickets for the game can be purchased through Ticketmaster. Get more information on the game and the line-up of celebrities at www.cityofhope.org/softball. Those not able to attend the game can still support the cause. A variety of unique merchandise and experiences, including meet-and-greets with the hottest artists, will be available for bid at charitybuzz.com. The proceeds will benefit City of Hope’s mission to eradicate cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

To request media credentials for the 25^th Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game, apply HERE.

Suggested Tweet: PLAY BALL! @littlebigtown @VGcom @charlesesten @lauren_alaina #strikeoutcancer @cityofhope Celeb Softball Game 6/13 @firsttnpark http://bit.ly/csg15pr

Suggested Tweet: .@loveandtheft @chuckwicksmusic @lindsayell @aaron_watson #strikeoutcancer @cityofhope Celeb Softball Game 6/13 @firsttnpark http://bit.ly/csg15pr

About City of Hope
City of Hope is an independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as a comprehensive cancer center, the highest recognition bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, City of Hope is also a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, with research and treatment protocols that advance care throughout the nation. City of Hope’s main hospital is located in Duarte, California, just northeast of Los Angeles. It is ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” in cancer by U.S.News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation and genetics. For more information, visit www.cityofhope.org or follow City of Hope on facebook, twitter, youtube, instagram or flickr.