Country Superstars Heed NFR’s Entertainment Requests

Joe Delaney

Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1997 | 5:23 a.m.

NFR, WEEK TWO. ... This is the second and final week of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center. ... The action concludes Sunday, Dec. 14. ... Please note the starting times for most of the country performers in town during NFR. ... The rodeo breaks about 10 nightly so most shows start at 10:30 or 11.

MANY CHOICES: The Charlie Daniels Band, for real, is the Imperial Palace attraction, Dec. 7, while Gary Allan will do two shows Dec. 7 (Palace Station). ... Diamond Rio is scheduled to play the Orleans on Dec. 7-10. ... Clay Walker follows Diamond Rio, Dec. 11-13. ... Monday, usually a dark day, has three openings this week.

ALABAMA, a multiple-award winner throughout the years, is a Mirage regular during NFR, performing Dec. 8-13. ... Comedian Bill Engvall is Bally's attraction, Dec. 8-14. ... Deana Carter starts a two-day stand, Dec. 8, at the Las Vegas Hilton ... Singer-songwriter Terri Clark checks into the Rio for three days, Dec. 10-13.

LEANN RIMES, country music's hottest attraction, will be joined by Ty Herndon, Dec. 11-14, in the Caesars Palace Circus Maximus, sure to be the town's toughest ticket. ... The Stations are busy Dec. 11, with Trace Adkins at Boulder Station and David Kersh at Palace Station, both acts doing two shows that evening.

MARTINA McBRIDE starts her two-day Desert Inn Crystal Room stand, Dec. 11-12. ... Randy Travis will give Rimes and Herndon their strongest competition, Dec. 11-13, playing the Las Vegas Hilton. ... The Hard Rock Hotel has Chris LeDoux (Dec. 12) and Neal McCoy (Dec. 13). ... It's Toby Keith on Dec. 12 at Texas Station and Sammy Kershaw on Dec. 13-14 at Boulder Station, making for a truly eclectic selection.

AFTER THE NFR. ... If you're staying over another week, we recommend Louie Anderson's annual Christmas show at Bally's, Dec. 15-25, worth staying over for. ... Siegfried & Roy will be on holiday next week; the Mirage will present Lionel Richie, Dec. 17-20.