CHEYENNE There is a definite classic feel to this year s Cheyenne Frontier Days night show lineup.
CFD announced on Tuesday that country music icon Merle Haggard is the final headliner for the summer concert series that starts July 20. He plays Sunday night, July 22, with Chancey Williams and the Younger Brothers Band opening for him.
This is the second time Haggard will play at CFD and the first since 1979. Tickets for the show go on sale this Friday.
He joins a 2012 lineup that features Hank Williams Jr., Reba McEntire and the classic rock band Journey.
The other headliners for the 116th Daddy of em All are Zac Brown Band, Brad Paisley and Blake Shelton.
Zac Brown Band gets the series started.
As to the reason for this push toward the classic country and rock for this year s CFD lineup, Pat Moffett said it was what people said they wanted.
Like I ve done the previous two years, I ve tried to get something for everybody, the CFD Contract Acts Committee chairman said Tuesday. I thought I would go a little old school this year. I listened to the community last year and some of the complaints from the two nights of rock n roll.
So I listened and I went a little old school. I know I m not going to make everyone happy. But hopefully I got something for everyone. I changed it up this year.
Moffett made it clear that the animal-rights group S.H.A.R.K., or Showing Animals Respect and Kindness, which believes animals are mistreated at the rodeo, had no role in his ability to get younger acts for this year s lineup. He said there were a few acts last year that the group was able to influence.
But that wasn t an issue this year at all, Moffett said. I just listened to the community, and they wanted more old-school acts.
Added CFD General Chairman Rod Hottle: That s what we were looking for with this act was a classic country act. And being able to bring Merle Haggard does that for us.
On top of the old-school feel, the date Haggard plays had a role in this selection as well.
Hottle said Sundays are more of a family day, and that s what Haggard brings with his show.
I think it s also that it s priced right, Hottle said. It s $23. So we think that s a great way to come out to the park, watch the rodeo that day and see Merle that night.
Haggard is known for his smooth, deep voice and songs about the southern way of life.
Some of his classics include Okie from Muskogee, The Fightin Side of Me and Today I Started Loving You Again.
More than 40 of his singles have gone to No. 1 in the various major trade magazines.
Haggard has been nominated 42 times for Country Music Association awards, more than any other male country artist.
This summer serves as the first time Williams will play at CFD in his legendary career. By comparison, this is the eighth time McEntire will play here. Even Johnny Cash played at CFD three times.
This also is the first time Journey will play CFD.
I m really, really excited about Hank Jr., Moffett said. He s never played in Cheyenne. And I think he s going to put on one heckuva show. It s been a long time and a lot of phone calls to make this happen.
I have had a bunch of guys who tried to get him to play here call me and say, How did you do that?
Moffett said it was still too early to know how ticket sales compare to last year.
Every year, people ask how we re going to beat the next year, Hottle said. We have a great relationship with Romeo Entertainment. They look at the artists and how the artists will be running for the year.
Given all those pieces to the puzzle, we think we put up another strong lineup.
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