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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                             BASS, BERRY & SIMS PLC
                    A PROFESSIONAL LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
                                ATTORNEYS AT LAW

                                                                
        KNOXVILLE OFFICE                                                      DOWNTOWN OFFICE:
900 SOUTH GAY STREET, SUITE 1700               REPLY TO:                       AMSOUTH CENTER
       KNOXVILLE, TN 37902                  AMSOUTH CENTER            315 DEADERICK STREET, SUITE 2700
         (865) 521-6200            315 DEADERICK STREET, SUITE 2700       NASHVILLE, TN 37238-3001
                                       NASHVILLE, TN 37238-3001                (615) 742-6200
         MEMPHIS OFFICE                     (615) 742-6200
   THE TOWER AT PEABODY PLACE                                                MUSIC ROW OFFICE:
  100 PEABODY PLACE, SUITE 950             WWW.BASSBERRY.COM                29 MUSIC SQUARE EAST
     MEMPHIS, TN 38103-2625                                               NASHVILLE, TN 37203-4322
         (901) 543-5900                                                        (615) 255-6161




                                November 20, 2003


Gaylord Entertainment Company
One Gaylord Drive
Nashville, Tennessee 37214

         Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as your counsel in the preparation of the Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") relating to the ResortQuest
International, Inc. Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan")
filed by you with the Securities and Exchange Commission covering an aggregate
of 597,450 shares (the "Shares") of common stock, $.01 par value, issuable
pursuant to the Plan.

         In so acting we have examined and relied upon such records, documents,
and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate in order
to express the opinions hereinafter set forth and have assumed the genuineness
of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as
originals, and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted
to us as certified or photostatic copies.

         Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when
issued pursuant to and in accordance with the Plan, will be validly issued,
fully paid, and non-assessable.

         We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.



                                            /s/ Bass, Berry & Sims PLC