42ND SIKESTON BOOTHEEL RODEO TO OFFER PRIME-TIME ENTERTAINMENT

SIKESTON -- Joe Diffie, Martina McBride, Marty Stuart and Tracy Lawrence are among the top entertainers scheduled to take the stage at the 42nd annual Sikeston Rodeo.

The Sikeston Rodeo will take place from Wednesday, Aug. 10, through Saturday, Aug. 13.

Diffie looks at all sides of life on his third Epic release, "Honky Tonk Attitude." The new attitude relects another facet of Diffie that had only been hinted at in such songs as "Next Thing Smokin' ", "Regular Joe" and "If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)" from his first two releases.

"I wanted something that personified the rowdiness and the fun that we have on stage," said Diffie. "I told my producers I wanted this thing to kick and to have fun with it. I think this album kicks up a little more dust."

McBride is no stranger to country music fans in the Bootheel. She was the headline act during the 1994 Riverfest. With "The Way That I Am," McBride continues to explore the emotional issues of women dealing with romantic relationships. There is the voice in "That Wasn't Me" that asks her love interest not to confuse her with former loves who have hurt him. A woman trapped in an abusive relationship declares her liberation in the troubling, thought-provoking song,"Independence Day."

With the song "Going' To Work," Martina turns her attention to the working woman who uses her work as a way to escape the pain of a broken relationship.

Over the course of three MCA albums, Marty Stuart has reached out in many directions to embrace the music of the masters of country music. Now, with his musical foundation firmly established, Stuart reaches inward to find the music for his new MCA album "Love And Luck."

Said Stuart,"I've touched on a lot of areas. I've gotten everybody's attention. I've gotten their eyes, their feet and their heads. It was time to go for the heart."

Going for the heart meant some soul-searching for Stuart. He actually postponed recording this album for several months until he found the right music. "I spent a whole year trying to write and find songs for this album that came from a deeper place," he said. "I really consider this album an adventure from a writing standpoint, and wanted every song to have a story. When I was on the road, I would wander out of the bus every morning with a pen and a piece of paper, and explore, just looking for magic."

The Sikeston Rodeo, which has a total purse of $80,000, is in the top 10 percent of Professional Rodeo Circuit Association purses nationally.

This year's event is expected to draw some of the top cowboys and bareback riders in the country. There will also be wildhorse racing, wrangler bullfighting and various other events.