Gaylord Reaches Agreements with Two Major Shareholders

Agreements on Board Nominees and Shareholder Rights

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. March 10, 2009

NASHVILLE, TN, March 10, 2009 - Gaylord Entertainment Co. (NYSE: GET) today announced that it has reached agreements with TRT Holdings, Inc., a major shareholder, and GAMCO Asset Management Inc., a money manager that owns shares of Gaylord on behalf of its clients, on Gaylord's board nominees for the 2009 Annual Meeting and on amendments to Gaylord's shareholder rights plan.

Under the agreements, TRT and GAMCO will withdraw their previous board nominations and resolutions and vote their shares for Gaylord's nominees.

Gaylord will increase the size of its board from nine to 11 directors. The Gaylord nominees will include seven current directors, TRT nominees Robert Rowling and David Johnson, and GAMCO nominees Robert S. Prather, Jr. and Glenn J. Angiolillo. The current directors who will stand for reelection are Colin V. Reed, Michael Bender, E. K. Gaylord II, Ralph Horn, Ellen Levine, Michael D. Rose and Michael I. Roth.

Gaylord will amend its shareholder rights plan to increase the ownership trigger from 15% to 22% and to include a 'qualifying offer' exception for fully financed offers that are (i) valued at least 25% above the Company's then current and 12-month moving average stock prices and (ii) receive tenders of at least 51% of shares not owned by the potential acquirer.

TRT has agreed to a standstill agreement through May 15, 2011 under which it will support Gaylord's board slate including two TRT designees. The agreement also includes non-disparagement provisions.

'We are pleased to have reached agreements with two major shareholders that are in the best interests of all Gaylord shareholders and will avoid the significant costs and distraction of a proxy contest,' said Colin V. Reed, chairman and chief executive officer of Gaylord Entertainment. 'We look forward to the insights and experience these four new directors will bring to the board and to working together to enhance value for all shareholders in today's difficult operating environment.'

'We appreciate the efforts of management in working with us to reach this agreement and avoid a proxy contest,' said Robert Rowling, owner of TRT Holdings. 'We are looking forward to working with Colin and his team to continue building Gaylord and creating value for all shareholders.'

TRT and GAMCO and its affiliates, own approximately 14.9% and 13.36%, respectively, of Gaylord's outstanding shares.