Dixie Chicks and Vince Gill Join the List of Country Music's Hottest Stars At Fan Fair 2000

Business Wire, April 13, 2000

     Entertainment Editors

     NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--April 13, 2000--

         Gary Allan, Chad Brock, Anita Cochran, Craig Morgan,
    Chalee Tennison, Bryan White Also Added to List of Performers

     The Dixie Chicks and Vince Gill are the latest superstars added
to the long list of artists already scheduled to appear at the most
star-studded Fan Fair yet. The highly heralded Dixie Chicks will fly
in from concert dates in Canada just to meet and greet fans at their
Fan Club booth. Popular, award-winning artist Vince Gill will host the
MCA Nashville show at the grandstands on Tuesday, June 13 from 7 -
9:30 p.m. They join more than 40 other platinum and multi-platinum
artists participating in Fan Fair 2000, including Alabama, Clint
Black, Brooks & Dunn, Billy Ray Cyrus, Charlie Daniels, Alan Jackson,
Lonestar, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina, John Michael
Montgomery, LeAnn Rimes and Wynonna. Fan Fair 2000 takes place in
Nashville, Tenn. June 12-16.
     The fans are sure to be treated to a star-packed week with more
than 85 artists scheduled to perform and even more top talent meeting
fans and signing autographs in the Fan Fair exhibit halls. There is no
other event where fans can see so many artists perform during more
than 30 hours of live stage shows, get autographs and have photos made
with their favorite stars.
     Some of Country Music's biggest names have been added to the list
of performers to appear live at the grandstand stage shows. Recent
additions to the talent lineup include Gary Allan, Chad Brock, Troy
Cassar-Daly, Kasey Chambers, Mark Chesnutt, Anita Cochran, Craig
Morgan, Jane Saunders, Chalee Tennison and Bryan White.
     Other artists performing during Fan Fair include John Anderson,
Jessica Andrews, Asleep at the Wheel, BlackHawk, Tracy Byrd, Kenny
Chesney, Terri Clark, Chuck Wagon & the Wheels, Tammy Cochran, Clay
Davidson, Jennifer Day, Diamond Rio, Joe Diffie, Alecia Elliott, Sara
Evans, The Geezinslaws, Billy Gilman, Jack Greene, Andy Griggs, Keith
Harling, Wade Hayes, Ty Herndon, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Sonya Isaacs,
Toby Keith, Jerry Kilgore, The Kinleys, Tracy Lawrence, Danni Leigh,
Loretta Lynn, Tom Mabe, Kathy Mattea, Coley McCabe, Neal McCoy, Ronnie
Milsap, Montgomery Gentry, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Collin Raye,
Julie Reeves, John Rich, Ricochet, River Road, Sawyer Brown, SHeDAISY,
Ricky Van Shelton, Daryle Singletary, Sons of the Desert, Johnny
Staats, 3 of Hearts, Pam Tillis, Aaron Tippin, The Wilkinsons, Phil
Vassar, Mark Wills, Lee Ann Womack, Darryl Worley, Chely Wright, and
Yankee Grey. Many additional performers will be announced as they are
confirmed. More than 100 acts performed at Fan Fair 99.
     In addition to the live shows, several artists are scheduled to
appear in their fan club booths and meet fans including Bill Anderson,
Lynn Anderson, Doug Supernaw, Trace Adkins, Bellamy Brothers, John
Berry, T. Graham Brown, Royal Wade Kimes, David Lee Murphy, Paul
Overstreet, Kevin Sharp, Victoria Shaw and Don Williams.
     Fans who want to attend Fan Fair 2000 have several options for
purchasing tickets: Contact the Fan Fair office at 615/889-7503, or
write Fan Fair, 2804 Opryland Drive, Nashville, TN 37214. Registration
forms and information can also be found online at
http://www.fanfair.com. Tickets will also be on sale through all
Ticketmaster Centers including Kroger, Proffitt's, Tower Records,
Cat's Music Shop and Sound Shop or CHARGE-BY-PHONE at 615/255-9600
or buy online at http://www.ticketmaster.com. For additional
information fans may call toll free 877-813-FANS (3267).
     The registration fee for Fan Fair is $90 and includes the stage
shows; admission to the exhibit halls; two meals prepared on-site by
the world famous Odessa Chuck Wagon Gang from Odessa, Texas; plus
admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame, the historic Ryman
Auditorium and discounts to other tourist attractions.
     A big part of the excitement during Fan Fair week activities is
"Country Weekly Presents The TNN Music Awards." The gala event, hosted
by Jeff Foxworthy, will be held Thursday, June 15 from 7 - 10 p.m. CST
at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tenn. Tickets can be
purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 615/255-9600. Order forms are
also available at http://www.country.com.
     The latest schedule and additional event information can be found
online at http://www.fanfair.com. CMA handles information on Fan Fair
exhibit booths and media requests. Fan Fair is organized and sponsored
by the Country Music Association and The Grand Ole Opry. TNN and CMT
are Official Media Sponsors of Fan Fair. Ford is the Official Truck of
Fan Fair 2000.
     Net proceeds from Fan Fair go into a special fund used by CMA to
advance the growth and popularity of Country Music, including research
projects, marketing and international development activities in
addition to support of the new Country Music Hall of Fame and
Leadership Music, Nashville's music industry leadership development
program. The first Fan Fair was held in 1972. The event regularly
attracts more than 600 media representatives from around the world.
     Founded in 1958, the Country Music Association was the first
trade organization formed to promote a type of music. More than 6,800
music industry professionals and companies from 43 countries around
the world are members of CMA. The organization's objectives are to
guide and enhance the growth of Country Music and to demonstrate it as
a viable medium to advertisers, consumers and media throughout the
world. CMA is headquartered in Nashville with offices/representatives
in London, Cologne and Sydney.
     The Grand Ole Opry will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2000 as
the longest-running radio show in history. Its cast includes some of
today's greatest Country Music stars and, over the years, has included
many of Country Music's legends. Still broadcast on clear channel
WSM-AM, the Grand Ole Opry is part of Gaylord Entertainment Company,
publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
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*T

                           As of 4/12/00 JLD
                       ARTISTS APPEARING AT THE
        29TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL COUNTRY MUSIC FAN FAIR - 2000
                 Program & artists subject to change.
  (All artists are listed in alphabetical order & all times are CST)

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MONDAY, JUNE 12                        TUESDAY, JUNE 13

----------------------------------------------------------------------


Opening Ceremonies                     THE CURB GROUP

9:45 am - 10:00 am                     10:00 am - 12:30 pm

                                            Tim McGraw

ATLANTIC RECORDS/ GIANT RECORDS             Jo Dee Messina

10:00 am - 12:30 pm                         LeAnn Rimes

     Atlantic Records:                      Sawyer Brown

     ----------------

     Tracy Lawrence                    MERCURY RECORDS

     John Michael Montgomery           2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

     Craig Morgan                           Naomi Judd - Host

     Giant Records:                         Terri Clark

     -------------                          Eric Heatherly

     Keith Harling                          Kathy Mattea

     Neal McCoy                             Mark Wills

     Johnny Staats

     The Wilkinsons                    MCA RECORDS

                                       7:00 pm - 9:30 pm

WARNER BROS & REPRISE NASHVILLE/            Vince Gill - Host

ASYLUM RECORDS                              Gary Allan

2:30 pm - 5:00 pm                           Mark Chesnutt

     Chad Brock                             Alecia Elliott

     Anita Cochran                          Rebecca Lynn Howard

     Chalee Tennison                        Sons of the Desert

     Bryan White                            Lee Ann Womack

                                            Chely Wright

SONY MUSIC

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
     John Anderson
     Tammy Cochran
     Billy Ray Cyrus
     Joe Diffie
     Billy Gilman
     Wade Hayes
     Ty Herndon
     The Kinleys
     Danni Leigh
     Montgomery Gentry
     Collin Raye
     Ricochet
     Yankee Grey

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14                     THURSDAY, JUNE 15
----------------------------------------------------------------------

LYRIC STREET RECORDS                   VIRGIN RECORDS NASHVILLE
10:00 am - 11:30 am                    10:00 am - 11:30 am
     Chuck Wagon & The Wheels               Clay Davidson
     Sonya Isaacs                           Jerry Kilgore
     Rascal Flatts                          Tom Mabe
     SHeDAISY                               Ronnie Milsap
     Aaron Tippin                           Julie Reeves
                                            River Road
DREAMWORKS NASHVILLE
11:30 am - 1:00 pm                     AUDIUM ENTERTAINMENT
     Ray Benson - Host                 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
     Jessica Andrews                        Pete Fisher - Host
     Asleep at the Wheel                    Loretta Lynn
     Toby Keith                             Ricky Van Shelton
     Darryl Worley                          Daryle Singletary

ARISTA NASHVILLE                       INTERNATIONAL SHOW
2:30 pm - 4:30 pm                      2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
     BlackHawk                              Troy Cassar-Daley
     Brooks & Dunn                          Kasey Chambers
     Diamond Rio                            Jane Saunders
     Alan Jackson
     Brad Paisley                      ROUNDER RECORDS
     Pam Tillis                        3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
     Phil Vassar                            Rhonda Vincent
                                            Wylie & The Wild West
RCA LABEL GROUP
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm                     STEP ONE RECORDS
     Bill Engvall - Host               4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
     Tracy Byrd                             The Geezinslaws
     Kenny Chesney                          Jack Greene
     Jennifer Day
     Sara Evans                        BLUEGRASS SHOW
     Andy Griggs                       7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
     Lonestar
     Coley McCabe                      COUNTRY WEEKLY PRESENTS
     John Rich                         THE TNN MUSIC AWARDS
     3 of Hearts                       7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
                                       (Gaylord Entertainment Center)
                                       Separate ticket must be
                                       purchased for this event

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FRIDAY, JUNE 16
----------------------------------------------------------------------

     -- Visit Area Attractions

     Information also available at www.fanfair.com

     --30--LM/na*

     CONTACT:  Country Music Association, Nashville
               Wendy Pearl/Director of Communications
               WPearl@CMAworld.com
               Phone: 615/244-2840 Fax: 615/242-4783
               or
               Dixie Weathersby/Media Relations Manager
               DWeathersby@CMAworld.com
               Phone: 615/244-2840 Fax: 615/242-4783

    KEYWORD:  TENNESSEE INTERNATIONAL EUROPE
    INDUSTRY KEYWORD:  ENTERTAINMENT MUSIC TELEVISION/RADIO