Grand Ole Opry in Play After Poison Pill Voted Down: Real M&A

Country-music history could be up for sale as the owner of the Grand Ole Opry, the showcase that’s hosted everyone from Johnny Cash to Dolly Parton and Carrie Underwood, is pushed to weigh its options.

Gaylord Entertainment Co., the Nashville, Tennessee-based company that also owns nearby attractions and four combination hotel and convention centers across the U.S., moved closer to becoming an acquisition target last week when shareholders led by Mario Gabelli’s Gamco Investors Inc. voted to let a poison pill guarding against unwanted takeovers expire. The $1.69 billion company is already reviewing options to boost its shares, which fell 33 percent last year.