Entertainers announced for Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo

SIKESTON, Mo. -- When choosing the entertainment for this year's Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, entertainment chairman Craig Templeton prioritized bringing in acts that he knew the community would like.

"I wanted to bring in people that we knew those who attend the rodeo would enjoy," he said. "More of the new country, mixed with the music they know -- a lot of songs that are on the radio now. We want a sellout crowd every night."

Templeton said that during the performances, Jaycees always want the crowd to get involved -- to sing and dance. And he thinks that's what the group will accomplish with the acts booked for this year's event, set for Aug. 10-13.

The entertainment lineup for this year's event, announced during a noon news conference held in conjunction with the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce meeting Thursday, is: Xtreme Muzik The Tour, with Big and Rich and Gretchen Wilson and special guests Cowboy Troy and Two Foot Fred for Aug. 10; Craig Morgan on Aug. 11; Pat Green on Aug. 12; and Rodney Atkins on Aug. 13.

Cal Crader, general chairman, noted the organization has worked to get Big and Rich and Pat Green to come to the rodeo for a few years now. He agreed that this year's lineup is top-notch, and will appeal to all.

"Our goal is to deliver world-class entertainment at a value price for our patrons," said Crader. "I think that we have an A+ lineup that will do that for another year for us."

Tickets this year will be $20 for bleacher seats and $30 for box seats. They may be purchased online through www.sikestonrodeo.com, in person at the box office, or by calling 1-800-455-BULL.

Crader noted that while having multiple entertainment acts in one night in the past has led to choppy transitions, that won't be the case with the Wednesday night acts.

"They all have one band," he said of Big and Rich and Gretchen Wilson. "The music will never stop, and they'll just go from one to another and back and forth."

He called Wilson's appearance "a value-added part of getting Big and Rich. She was a sellout for us [last year] and we think our patrons really enjoyed it."

Templeton said he anticipates the show will be "event-filled, and you'll never know what's going to happen next."

Comprised of Big Kenny and John Rich, Big and Rich met in 1998, and years later began writing songs together. Friends, they jammed at each other's shows, and clambered onstage with other singer-songwriter friends, according to a news release. These casual sessions turned into a weekly Tuesday night gig, known as Muzik Mafia.

In 2004, the duo debuted with "Wild West Show." Later that spring, the "Horse of a Different Color" album arrived and topped the Billboard Chart, thanks to the breakout single "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy."

Other top songs are "Comin' to Your City" and "8th of November," for which the music video received a CMA nomination.

In the late '90s Wilson met Big and Rich and she soon began singing demos and became part of the Musik Mafia, singing on Tuesday nights in ever-bigger clubs and pitching herself to record labels. Her song "Redneck Woman" is said to have turned the corner for Wilson's career, and helped her become an across-the-board phenomenon, spending six weeks at No. 1

Wilson's debut album, "Here For The Party" sold more than 5 million copies and she has won across-the-board awards including a Grammy and ACM, CMA and AMA nods for best female vocalist.

Her second CD, "All Jacked Up" achieved platinum status, and her third, "One Of The Boys," is said to have solidified Wilson's position as one of contemporary country's most original and multifaceted female artists.

Her fourth album, "I Got Your Country Right Here" hit stores in March 2010, debuting as No. 6 on the album chart. Her newest single is "I'd Love To Be Your Last."

Crader noted that Morgan is another returning performer, who also was at the 2006 rodeo.

"Since then, he's racked up another half dozen Top 20 hits and a couple of No. 1s," said Crader. "He is an established artist now with broad appeal, and we think he is a good match for our Thursday night patrons."

Templeton added: "He is a Top 40 artist right now. Everybody knows Craig Morgan's music, and he's all over the radio right now."

Morgan has 14 total Top 10 hits, including fan favorites "Redneck Yacht Club," "Almost Home," "That's What I Love About Sunday" and "Tough."

The song "Still A Little Chicken Left On That Bone," is currently on the airwaves.

Pat Green is known as a major American singer-songwriter, who first released an album in 1995, "Dance Hall Dreamer."

Templeton said that while several people may not recognize the artist by name, people immediately know Green's songs.

"I think he'll really surprise people and have a good, exciting, nonstop show," said Templeton.

In 2008, Green released "Let Me" as the first single from his album "What I'm For," released in 2009. The single reached No. 12 on the country charts, which gave Green his first Top 20 single since "Feels Just Like It Should" reached No. 13 in 2006. That album also features the song "Footsteps Of Our Fathers."

"[Green] has a very big following of people that travel around and see him," said Crader. "We think it will be something a little bit different on Friday night and probably another big hit for our patrons."

Atkins, according to Crader, is a good fit for the Saturday night act, in which Jaycees always strive to have a high-energy act.

"It's always a big night for us, and we like to put on a good show," he said.

Due to Atkins' popularity -- especially with the younger demographic, which comprises much of the Saturday night ticket sales, Templeton said he "jumped all over" booking the singer when he learned Atkins was available.

Four songs from Atkins' platinum-selling 2006 album, "If You're Going Through Hell," became No. 1 hits -- a feat no one had accomplished since 2002.

That album gave Atkins his true breakthrough, and helped him earn the Academy of Country Music's Top New Male Vocalist award, plus five other ACM nominations and two Country Music Association nominations.

Atkins' current album is "It's America," and now riding the charts is the smash hit "Farmer's Daughter."

Crader said he expects to see strong ticket sales and perhaps sellout crowds again this year.

"I think that with the lineup and with people continuing to stay close to home for vacations and how easy it is to buy tickets through our website, it just makes our event more and more of a value for your family entertainment dollar," he said.

Pertinent address:

1220 N. Ingram Road, Sikeston, MO