PIGEON FORGE, Tenn., Oct. 19, 2015 -- The Smoky Mountain Opry™ Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is getting ready for a big fundraising event benefiting the non-profit American Eagle Foundation (AEF), which will showcase an extravaganza of entertainment.

On Sunday December 13th at 8 pm, Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry will host a special benefit show featuring
renowned "American Idol” season 14 runner-up Clark Beckham, singer/songwriter James Rogers (who worked for country superstar Dolly Parton for 27 years),
and “Challenger,” the famous non-releasable free-flying Bald Eagle (that lives at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge).
Other special guest entertainers may be announced in coming weeks.

"I'm very excited to help out with this great event. I love Christmas music, I love Pigeon Forge and I love the American Eagle Foundation. So I'm ready to give it all I've got come December," said Beckham.

The benefit show celebrates the American Eagle Foundation’s 30th anniversary and will raise money to help care for and protect America’s bald eagles.

“This special show to support the important work of the American Eagle Foundation offers a spectacular variety of celebrity acts and entertainment.
It will also showcase the outstanding pageantry of ‘Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry’ with a live nativity,” said David Fee, president and chief executive officer of Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group. “In addition, Challenger, the 26-year-old non-releasable Bald Eagle "Challenger" cared for by the American Eagle Foundation, will soar over the theater audience during a patriotic production number.”

Beckham is a native of White House, Tennessee and a graduate of Lee University.
He was involved in the Campus Choir there and led the group as a student director and tenor section leader.
He went on to be the runner up of season 14 of American Idol.

Rogers, who lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, worked as an entertainer at Dollywood for 25 years and is a former board member of the AEF.
He is known nationwide for his eagle-themed songs “Fly Eagle Fly”, "Save the Eagle" and "When Challenger Flies".

“We are really blessed with the many talented performers who have agreed to join us to celebrate our 30th anniversary benefit show,” said Al Cecere, founder and president of the American Eagle Foundation. “Their performances will make this a very special event and a phenomenal show! Our trained educational eagle "Challenger" is even up for the challenge.
Whenever we bring this majestic bird to an event, he brings a heart-felt smile to everyone’s faces, and stimulates some pretty passionate patriotic goosebumps".

Proceeds from the benefit show and event will support the eagle/raptor education, care and recovery work of American Eagle Foundation.
Dollywood is home to the American Eagle Foundation and its "Eagle Mountain Sanctuary" Aviary Exhibit and "Wings of America" Birds of Prey Show.

Tickets are available at $50 and $75 (plus tax).
The VIP $125 (plus tax) ticket package offers premium up-front-center seating, an after-the-show "Taste of the Smokies" food reception,
and a performer meet-and-greet and photo with Clark Beckham, the eagle Challenger and James Rogers.
In addition, Clark will sing two additional songs at the VIP reception. VIP ticket packages are limited and are expected to sell quickly.

To purchase tickets by phone call the theater’s box office (865) 428-7469 or 1-800-768-1170, or go online at http://www.SmokyMtnOpry.com.
The Smoky Mountain Opry™ Theater is located at traffic light 0 at 2046 Parkway in Pigeon Forge.

Theatre owner David Fee said, “We are thrilled to host this benefit show for the American Eagle Foundation.”

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Additional American Eagle Foundation Information:

The American Eagle Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to care for, restore and protect the USA’ s living symbol of freedom, the Bald Eagle, and other birds of prey. The AEF is celebrating its 30th year of carrying out its mission through Education, Repopulation, Conservation, & Rehabilitation. It is headquartered at the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Learn more at www.eagles.org

Additional Smoky Mountain Opry Theater Information:

Now in its fifth season, Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry™ presents the area’s largest ‘living nativity’ complete with flying angels, majestic camels, sheep and a donkey.
This holiday show features; award-winning aerialists and ice skaters, Santa and his elves, and a giant Workshop where toys come to life.
Fee said, “Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry is a production show which brings to the stage a talented cast of musicians, singers, dancers and comedians,
performing in the largest, most spectacular Christmas show in the Smokies.
Our Christmas show represents audience favorites, traditional and new Christmas music, a country Christmas, and the beauty of a living nativity that tells a story and celebrates the birth of Christ.
We are extremely proud of Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry™ and it’s aspiration to become a Family Tradition!”

David Fee and David Horton will co-produce and Sandy Inbody will direct Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry™ this year. “We want this to be an evening filled with families and friends sharing in a celebration of music, dance, laughter and the true meaning of Christmas.
The Dec. 13th 8 pm, American Eagle Foundation fundraising event also brings Challenger and patriotism to this year’s Christmas show” Fee said.
Tickets are available through The Smoky Mountain Opry™ Theater.

The Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group, one of the largest show production companies in the southeast, is now in its 20th anniversary season.
The company also owns and produces other major shows in the Smoky Mountain area including; “The Comedy Barn®”, The “Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show™,” “The Blackwoods Morning Variety Show” featuring the Blackwoods and “Magic Beyond Belief™” starring Darren Romeo. “Christmas at The Smoky Mountain Opry” opens on Nov. 2 and “The Hatfield and McCoy Christmas Dinner Disaster Show” opens Nov. 1.
“The Comedy Barn® Christmas Show” opens Nov. 28.
The company also owns Happy Days Diner restaurant, Chef’s Catering and a website, seepigeonforge.com, to assist Smoky Mountain visitors with their entire Smoky Mountain experience online.

For additional information and media questions contact: Al Cecere, 865-809-2385, al@eagles,org or Julia Cecere, 865-654-4223, Julia@eagles.org

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Here are the "Clark Beckham/Eagle Charity Benefit Show" TV & Radio PSA's in High Quality (Drop Box Links)

Video/TV PSA:

https://db.tt/YWysaa4T

Audio/Radio PSA;

https://db.tt/Kko8TaDt

Even though the show is Dec 13, we are trying to sell out the 200 or so $125 VIP tickets as soon as possible.

We would really appreciate your assistance in helping us achieve this goal.

The Smoky Mountain Opry in Pigeon Forge currently has tickets available at $50 and $75 (plus tax).

The VIP $125 (plus tax) ticket package offers premium up-front-center seating, an after-the-show "Taste of the Smokies" food reception, and a performer meet-and-greet and photo with Clark Beckham, the eagle Challenger, and James Rogers. In addition, Clark will sing two additional songs at the VIP reception. Tickets are expected to sell quickly.