Nashville’s iconic race is singing a new tune next year as the event is rebranding to become the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon & 1/2 Marathon, which has been formerly known as the Country Music Marathon since 2001. The historic Nashville race will be further integrated into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series global brand, which includes 30 destination events taking place around the world each year. Additionally, the name change aligns with Music City’s diverse foundation that features musical artists spanning all genres of music, not just country music.

“Nashville grew from a foundation built on music, and while country music is a pivotal piece of that, it’s not the only genre that defines Music City,” said Josh Furlow, president of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series. “The rock and roll genre roots itself in a spectrum of music styles including bluegrass, jazz, folk, soul, and of course country. Our goal is to celebrate Nashville as a destination for live music and running by linking the historical race with the power of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon brand.”

“This race has always been an event that creates excitement every year around being active and healthy,” said Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. “Nashville prides itself on being Music City, and we hope everyone will embrace the new motto ‘Run Music City’ with the renamed race.”

St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville will provide a similar race experience to years past, while emphasizing a broader integration of music. Runners will tour some of Music City’s most notable hot spots and attractions, with thousands of spectators lining the course to cheer on participants.

The race will once again start in downtown Nashville on Broadway, travel through some of Nashville’s iconic locations such as Belmont University, the Tennessee State Capitol Building, Shelby Park and the Cumberland River, before finishing at Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans.

“What originally started as the Country Music Marathon 17 years ago has evolved into an event that annually attracts more than 30,000 visitors from around the world,” said Butch Spyridon, president/CEO of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. “We’re excited that the event’s new name celebrates the diversity of music genres thriving in Music City, and we look forward to participants being part of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series as they run Music City.”

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, will return as the title partner and official charity of the 2016 St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon. Last year more than 3,000 St. Jude Heroes participated in the race, raising over $2 million for the hospital by securing donations from family, friends and co-workers. Funds raised from St. Jude are instrumental in supporting the $2 million per day it takes to run the hospital and allow families to never receive a bill for St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.

For more information on the event, visit and follow St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon on Twitter @RunRocknRoll with hashtag #RunMusicCity.

For runners, registration opens tomorrow with a special $55 entry fee through Friday at .

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. St. Jude has the world’s best survival rates for the most aggressive childhood cancers, and treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to 80% since we opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90% in the next decade.

St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs we make, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing and food because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org or following St. Jude on facebook. com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.

The St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon & 1/2 Marathon will celebrate its 17th running in the Music City on Saturday, April 30, 2016. Featuring many of Nashville’s best live bands on 28 stages along the 26.2 and 13.1-mile courses, the musically themed road race annually attracts more than 30,000 runners, walkers and junior racers.

Saturday’s marathon and half marathon conclude with a nighttime Toyota Rock ‘n’ Roll Concert Series headliner performance at the Bridgestone Arena. Race weekend kicks off with a two-day Health & Fitness Expo on Thursday, April 28. Kids Rock Nashville presented by YMCA of Middle Tennessee, a one-mile fun run for children K-12, takes place on Sunday, May 1.

For more information, visit <RunRocknRoll.com/Nashville>.