Several weeks ago, country singers and staffers at a Tuesday night Grand Ole Opry show gathered around televisions backstage and watched Hurricane Katrina pound the Gulf Coast.

The artists, staffers and executives of Great American Country cable network — TV home to the Opry — exchanged worried looks and words of concern.

Within four days, last night's star-studded hurricane relief show was totally booked with talent. It took a little longer to sell out the 4,400-seat Opry House, but that happened over this past weekend.

Alan Jackson, LeAnn Rimes, Keith Urban, Alison Krauss and others mixed with longtime Opry stars such as Porter Wagoner and Little Jimmy Dickens to present a show that was part tribute to victims and rescue workers and part pep rally to help them both.

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