Brooks & Dunn's "Cowboy Town" adopted by Wrangler Rodeo
Wednesday, December 5, 2007 – Brooks & Dunn's "Cowboy Town" was named as the official song of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) for the next two years.
The Wrangler NFR runs from Dec. 6-15 and features the top 15 contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding competing for a share of the $5.5 million purse.
The partnership calls for "Cowboy Town" to be played nightly during the Grand Entry, the introduction of all 118 Wrangler NFR contestants. Brooks & Dunn will perform "Cowboy Town" live to open the evening's events on Thursday, Dec. 13.
Now in its 49th year, the Wrangler NFR is beginning preparations for its 50th anniversary, a milestone it will reach in 2008. The dates for the Wrangler NFR next year are Dec. 4-13. The song "Cowboy Town" will become an integral part of the promotional plan for the anniversary celebration.
"We are approaching a significant moment in the history of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo," said Keith Martin, the PRCA's Chairman of the Board and interim CEO. "The introduction of this theme will help build excitement for the rodeo's golden anniversary."
In 2006, the event had a total event attendance of 175,649 over the 10 days of competition. The Wrangler NFR has sold out more than 210 consecutive performances. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the estimated non-gaming economic impact of the 2006 event was $52.8 million.
The song was written by Ronnie Dunn, Larry Boone, and Paul Nelson and is the title track of Brooks & Dunn's latest CD.
More news for Brooks & Dunn
CD reviews for Brooks & Dunn
#1s ... and then some
Brooks & Dunn are the most popular duo in country history racking up lots of hits and awards, but they amicably called it a career with plans to go their separate ways after a farewell 2010 tour. This two-CD set contains 30 songs, but aside from 2 new songs, there's not much reason to buy this set. The quality certainly is there as 20 of the songs reached the top of the chart.
The new songs - both were released as singles - were Honky Tonk Stomp, featuring ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, and Indian Summer. »»»
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Cowboy Town
If your idea of a cowboy is Cowboy Troy and the guys from Big & Rich, then sure, this new Brooks & Dunn album is named appropriately. For it's the city-bred hat crowd that the majority of these songs are aimed at or at least the women that married them. Their last couple of albums saw them gain some critical acclaim with songs like the stirring "Believe," but there's nothing that immediately memorable here. Instead, we get the fuzzy current events theology of, "God Must Be »»»
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Hillbilly Deluxe
If Brooks & Dunn thought they were on the right track with the album "Red Dirt Road," then they are absolutely sure of it on the new "Hillbilly Deluxe." This is a collection of songs that topically are about living high, wide and handsome ("One More Roll of the Dice") and then accepting the downside of that lifestyle "(Whiskey Do My Talkin'"). But it is also about higher powers ("I Believe") and higher purpose ("My Heart's Not a Hotel.").
But what really moves this new disc to another level is »»»
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Editorial: American Idol's Carrie Underwood can sing –
If anyone saw the Super Bowl – what a great great game that was – they would have heard American Idol winner and country superstar Carrie Underwood sing the National Anthem. Underwood did with her voice what Kelly Clarkson did last week with her written words – give it to Scott Borchetta, the head of Big Machine Records,, who tried defending Taylor Swift by knocking American Idol performers. »»»
Concert Review: McBride, Adkins shine sometimes –
As Martina McBride pointed out, the pairing of the country singer with Trace Adkins on their current jaunt was surprising. After all, she's of diva-quality voice, petite, non-controversial unless you call singing songs that empower women controversial. Adkins, on the other hand, has not been afraid to speak his mind with a kick butt attitude.... »»»
Concert Review: Eilen Jewell wears her musical hats well –
Eilen Jewell wears a lot of musical hats. The Idaho native, who now lives in Boston, fronts the Eilen (ee-lin) Jewell Band, a pretty much traditional country band. She's a member the Sacred Shakers, an octet doing gospel country with a country beat. And she has yet another project, Butcher Holler, covering Loretta Lynn songs.... »»»
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