18th Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge set for Wednesday, June 4, 2008, Noon, Nashville's Greer Stadium

Nashville, TN. (Top40 Charts/ Grand Ole Opry) - Some of country music's power hitters, Carrie Underwood, Vince Gill, Phil Vassar, Jake Owen, Chuck Wicks, James Otto, Danielle Peck and Tennessee Titans' Cornerback, Cortland Finnegan, are the first to step up to bat in the 18th Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge, Wednesday, June 4, at Noon at Nashville's Greer Stadium. Arch rival teams, Grand Ole Opry Live and Blair Garner's After MidNite, return for the fifth consecutive year for an afternoon of pranks, fun and softball. Tickets are $18 and available through Ticketmaster, 615-255-9600 or at www.ticketmaster.com

Country's hottest stars have teamed up for almost two decades to benefit City of Hope , a leading research and treatment institution for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The complete all-star line up will be announced in the coming weeks.

Blair Garner, creator of 'After MidNite with Blair Garner' comments, 'For three straight years, the After MidNite team has graciously conceded defeat to the Grand Ole Opry team. We are hoping for something different this year. Namely that for once, the Grand Ole Opry Live team won't cheat. Would you like to try some of our grapes? They're a little on the tart side.'

Pete Fisher, Grand Ole Opry vice president and general manager, said, 'everyone on the Opry Live team knows how important it is to assist in raising funds for such a great cause, but can we also just say how much fun we have had kicking some After MidNite tail these last three years? It has been a true pleasure to walk off the field as champs three summers in a row, and we don't see any reason the streak should stop now. After MidNite is hereby cordially invited to our dugout for an Opry Live celebration immediately after the game. We really do like them; they apparently just can't play softball.'