Grand Ole Opry member Blake Shelton and Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. announced plans to open a third Ole Red entertainment venue in the heart of Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

With a planned opening in spring 2019, Ole Red Gatlinburg will be a $9 million, multi-level 16,000-square-foot entertainment venue with a two-story bar and restaurant, retail area, performance space, dance floor and exterior terrace. Its chef-driven, Shelton-inspired menu will feature a few Nashville classics like Hot Chicken & Waffles as well as BBQ, burgers and additional Southern favorites.

Designed to embody the spirit of Shelton’s clever, irreverent hit “Ol’ Red,” the Ole Red brand is part of Ryman Hospitality Properties’ strategy to create digital content, retail products and entertainment venues that celebrate the country lifestyle and resonate with country music’s rapidly growing consumer base of more than 100 million people across the United States.

Ryman Hospitality Properties Chairman and CEO, Colin Reed, said, “With 12 million annual visitors and a rich country music legacy, Gatlinburg is an ideal destination for the Ole Red brand. We know the Smoky Mountain region is tremendously popular with country lifestyle consumers, and we believe Ole Red offers a unique entertainment experience that will attract even more visitors to the area.”

The venue will be equipped with state-of-the-art performance equipment including concert-level production and sound capabilities, along with LED screens throughout the space. Programming will include curated concert line-ups, showcases for up-and-coming talent and more to be announced as the venue nears completion.

Shelton said, “Gatlinburg is one of my all-time favorite places. This part of the country is full of people who love good food, great music, family and most importantly, a good time. That’s what Ole Red is all about, and I can’t wait to give my fans another place to have fun in Gatlinburg.”

The Ole Red Gatlinburg announcement comes a few weeks before Ole Red Nashville, a multi-level 26,000-square-foot entertainment venue in the heart of Nashville’s famed Lower Broadway, is expected to open in May of 2018. Ole Red Nashville includes a two-story bar and restaurant, retail area, performance space, dance floor, private event space, and a 6,000-square-foot rooftop with an indoor/outdoor bar and restaurant featuring panoramic views of Lower Broadway. Ole Red Gatlinburg and Ole Red Nashville join Ole Red Tishomingo, which opened in September of 2017 in Shelton’s hometown of Tishomingo, Oklahoma.

Reed continued, “It was our intention to make this announcement from Gatlinburg today. Unfortunately due to the inclement winter weather, we had to change our plans. I would like to sincerely thank everyone in Gatlinburg who was involved in making this great venture possible. We are thrilled to be a part of the city’s growth, and we look forward to coming back to Gatlinburg very soon.”

Ole Red Gatlinburg will be located at 511 Parkway, the main drive into town from Pigeon Forge. Ryman Hospitality Properties holds a long-term lease on the building and is working with Tuck-Hinton Architects and Anderson Design Studio on the project.

Back row, (L-R): Freeman Wizer, Sr. Director of Creative, Spirit Music Nashville; Michelle Davey, Administration Coordinator/Office Manager, Spirit Music Nashville; Brian Bradford, Sr. Director of Administration, Spirit Music Nashville; Billy Lynn, VP, Creative, Spirit Music Nashville; Daniel Hill, President, Spirit Music Nashville. Front row, (L-R): AJ Burton, VP, Fluid Music Revolution; Monty Criswell; Frank Rogers, President/Founder, Fluid Music Revolution

Spirit Music Nashville has acquired Monty Criswell’s Dixey Bar Music catalog, and Spirit/Fluid Music Revolution has signed Criswell to a worldwide publishing agreement, as announced today by David Renzer, Chairman/CEO, Spirit Music Group; Jon Singer, COO/CFO, Spirit Music Group; Frank Rogers, President, Fluid Music Revolution, and Daniel Hill, President, Spirit Music Nashville.

Criswell’s catalog includes multiple Gold-certified and chart-topping songs that have been recorded by some of the biggest names in country music, including “Five More Minutes” by Scotty McCreery, Top 10 Gold-certified single “Like Jesus Does” by Eric Church, and Top 10 single “Just Fishin,’” by Trace Adkins, which was also nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Song. Criswell’s catalog includes songs recorded by artists including George Strait, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Michael Ray, Chris Young, Kenny Chesney, Jake Owen, Josh Turner, Joe Nichols, Craig Morgan, Justin Moore, and Brantley Gilbert, among many others.

“Everyone here at Spirit is a huge fan of Monty’s work,” said David Renzer. “He’s a top level writer and we’re thrilled that he has chosen Spirit/Fluid as the home for both his great catalog as well as his future songwriting.”

“Writers like Monty don’t come around that often and we are honored that Monty has chosen Spirit/Fluid as his partner to create more great music together for years to come!” said Jon Singer.

“Fluid Music Revolution and Spirit Music Nashville are thrilled to be able to partner with Monty Criswell for the next chapter of his already impressive songwriting career,” said Frank Rogers. “Monty is an amazing talent and his passion for songwriting is contagious. This is going to be a fun ride!”

“I’m excited to begin this new chapter in my writing career with the two powerhouse teams of Spirit and Fluid Music Revolution. Their roster, creativity and outside-the-box thinking make for the perfect partnership,” said Monty Criswell.

Keith Urban honors country legend Merle Haggard in his latest single, “Coming Home,” from Urban’s upcoming album Graffiti U.

With “Coming Home,” Urban took the intro from Haggard’s signature song “Mama Tried,” and used it as the basis for a new song.

“’Coming Home” started with an idea I had of using the intro of one of my favorite Haggard songs, ‘Mama Tried’ – to build an entirely new song around it. Then, I took the idea to J.R. Rotem and he put some chords around it. I jotted down the first words that the music made me feel, jumped on a mic and sang the chorus.

“Hearing that rolling Haggard guitar lick sparked memories of my childhood – and my dream to come to America.” added Urban. “I knew right then the story (of the song) was about the struggles of being in a city where your dreams have brought you, but far from your home – wherever, whomever and whatever that is for each of us.”

Haggard is also given co-writer credit on the new song.

“Coming Home” also features vocals from pop artist Julia Michaels, who also co-wrote the track. Michaels has penned songs for Selena Gomez, Fifth Harmony and Gwen Stefani, and was nominated for two Grammy awards earlier this year, for Song of the Year (“Issues”) and Best New Artist. Co-writers on “Coming Home” include Urban, Rotem, Michaels, and country powerhouse songwriter Nicolle Galyon, with co-production by Rotem and Urban.

“Julia’s writing contribution extended into the idea of the need to want to physically be home,” Urban said. “She summed up the whole story in one sentence: ‘Yeah, I know it’s only one call away, but it’s not the same.’ For me, that simple phrase said so much, especially when she sang it!”

The song already has the blessing of Haggard’s wife Theresa Haggard and son Ben Haggard.

“I called Theresa Haggard and Ben Haggard to play them what we’d been working on. It was important to me to have their blessing- and I’m so grateful that they love the song.”

Urban’s 58-city “GRAFFITI U WORLD TOUR 2018,” launches June 15th in St. Louis.