Steve Hall and The Shotgun Red Show Returns to The General Jackson Showboat

Tickets on Sale Now for Beloved ‘Cowboy Puppet’ Show

Nashville, Tenn.—( January 7, 2011 ) This spring, Gaylord Opryland Resort's General Jackson Showboat will welcome the return of a beloved country music favorite—and star of shows like Nashville Now, Hee Haw and the Grand Ole Opry—to its stage for a new season of midday cruises, and it promises a unique brand of humor everyone is sure to love. Steve Hall and the Shotgun Red Show, full of what is described as "jaw-dropping, gut-busting comedy," will make its return to the iconic Nashville paddlewheel riverboat starting Fri., March 11, 2011. Keeping to its nature, the show, starring the famed Shotgun Red puppet, is sure to be one of the most animated and entertainingly interactive productions to cruise the Cumberland River in recent years.

"Steve Hall struck gold when he introduced the Shotgun Red character to his act—everyone fell in love with the humor only he can deliver," said Pete Weien, senior vice president and general manager of Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. "Steve Hall and the Shotgun Red Show aboard the General Jackson Showboat continues our commitment to fresh, world-class entertainment fit for audiences of all ages. This duo has had tremendous success in the country music world for decades, and we are excited to welcome the return of Steve Hall and Shotgun Red to our family."

In the early 1980s, Hall, a musician trying to emerge onto the country music scene, discovered the puppet in a hobby shop and fell in love with his large gray mustache and traditional "Nashville" outfit—a straw cowboy hat, a plaid shirt and overalls. Hall quickly incorporated Shotgun Red into his act. It was a visit to a then local morning TV show with famed host Ralph Emery that propelled Steve Hall and Shotgun Red to stardom. Shotgun Red was soon named as a co-host on Emery's Nashville Now country music talk and variety show, where he appeared for more than a decade. Numerous other TV appearances then followed. Steve Hall and Shotgun Red were also a part of the General Jackson Showboat cast, performing for nearly 12 years. Their last performance on the boat was in 2002.

Along with Shotgun Red, Hall's seven-piece country comedy band will offer a unique brand of Southern humor on their new midday show. Each cruise ticket also includes a mouth-watering, family-style lunch prepared by the General Jackson's executive chef. The menu includes a mixed green salad, creamy potato salad, green bean casserole, cranberry chicken and slow-roasted country pit ham, cornbread muffins, buttermilk biscuits and a to-die-for strawberry shortcake.*

Steve Hall and the Shotgun Red Show will run March 11 through November 13, 2011. Adult ticket prices for the midday cruise start at $53.51. Tickets for children ages 4 to 11 are $35.69, and children ages 3 and under are free. Boarding for the midday cruises begins at 11:15 a.m., and the boat departs at noon, returning at 2:30 p.m.

And for the evening, catch the last season of Country Music USA, the nostalgic journey through through America's music. This show, which has been receiving rave reviews since its debut in 2009, features the music of country legends like Hank Williams, Sr. and Patsy Cline and then takes the audience through succeeding decades of country music, ending with the blockbuster hits of today. This year marks the final run for that production and features new cast members and new songs. Country Music USA also includes a delicious three-course dinner and a three-hour cruise down the Cumberland River.

Tickets are on sale now! For more information, please call 615-458-3900 or visit www.generaljackson.com.

*Menu subject to change.

ABOUT THE GENERAL JACKSON SHOWBOAT
Named after President Andrew Jackson, whose historic home, the Hermitage, is only 10 minutes from the dock, the General Jackson Showboat has a rich history in its nearly 26-year existence. The showboat was built by Jeffersonville, Ind.-based Jeffboat, was launched April 20, 1985 and received its christening July 2, 1985. At 77 feet tall and with the capacity of 1,200 passengers and 182 crew members,, the General Jackson Showboat is the largest of its kind in the world. Available for midday and evening cruises year-round, the General Jackson Showboat offers exceptional dining and entertainment options, including country music, parties and special event cruises. The General Jackson is owned by Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a leading hospitality and entertainment company based in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit www.generaljackson.com .
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