Country acts line up for MDA telethon

NASHVILLE, June 10 (UPI) -- Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker have taped performances at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry for the Muscular Dystrophy Association Labor Day Telethon.

Martina McBride also pre-recorded a performance this week to be broadcast during the 6-hour, prime time event Sept. 4.

"We're pleased that country music's most famous stage was able to help create truly memorable segments for the MDA Labor Day Telethon," Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher said in a statement Wednesday. "Lady Antebellum, Martina and Darius transformed their Opry performances into must-watch television to help advance MDA's lifesaving mission."

The stars also taped special telethon tune-in messages and appeals that will be running frequently on more than 150 television stations throughout August and early September.

The co-hosts for the 2011 MDA Telethon are Nigel Lythgoe, Nancy O'Dell, Alison Sweeney and Jann Carl.

Jerry Lewis, who has been suffering from numerous health problems, announced this year he was retiring as host of the telethon.