Finals Score

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Dec. 3, 2004 | 8:48 a.m.

Following is a list of some of the top draws in Las Vegas during the National Finals Rodeo:

On a late night last December, Stoney Gray noticed an unexpected figure standing in the long line outside his nightclub.

There, among a sea of 10-gallon cowboy hats, was vocalist Gary Allan, a regular on the country music scene for the past decade.

"I saw him, standing there wearing a ball cap, and asked him why he was standing in line," said Gray, general manager of Gilley's, the Western-themed club and restaurant at the New Frontier.

"He said, 'I'm just like everybody else, so I'm waiting on line.' He was so humble."

Such an encounter typifies the sport-meets-entertainment extravaganza known as National Finals Rodeo week in Las Vegas. The 10-day rodeo kicks off tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center, bringing with it a host of country music acts to venues on and off the Strip.

Dolly Parton, Keith Urban, Terri Clark, Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich, Randy Travis and Brad Paisley are just a few of the headliners performing in town from tonight through Dec. 11.

"During NFR this whole city turns country," said Brooks O'Brian, program director for country station KWNR 95.5-FM. "You go into the casinos and they've got all the dealers wearing Wranglers and button-ups."

Stars from both the country music world and the professional rodeo circuit mingle with local and out-of-town fans, turning Las Vegas into "mini-Nashville" every December.

"Country fans come out from all over the world," said Gray, who will experience his sixth National Finals Rodeo week this year. "You get a guy who's a stockbroker next to a T-shirt designer from Japan with a country accent, and it's cool because they all get along."

Gilley's is one of NFR week's most popular hot spots, and not just after the rodeo action ends each night.

"It gets harder and harder every year to get NFR tickets, so for some people who can't get into the show, their best chance to see some of the people is at Gilley's."

On Gilley's stage during NFR '05: Thunder Road (tonight through Sunday and Thursday through Dec. 11), Killin' Time (tonight through Saturday and Thursday through Dec. 11) and Johnny Lee (Tuesday through Thursday). A $10 cover charge is collected each night at the door.

Last year several big-name country acts showed up at Gilley's, including Urban, Trick Pony, Kix Brooks, Dierks Bentley, Phil Vassar and Joe Nichols. Several played unannounced sets, some sat in with scheduled acts and others simply hobnobbed with patrons.

A look at a few of the top draws performing in Southern Nevada during the NFR:

Dolly Parton, 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Colosseum at Caesars Palace: The Queen of Country, who received a Living Legend award from the Library of Congress this year, brings her "Hello, I'm Dolly" tour to the House That Celine Built.

Parton most recently played a major series of concerts in 1993, making this a must-see event for fans of the 58-year-old vocalist, whose catalog of hits includes "Coat of Many Colors," "9 to 5" and "Islands in the Stream."

Terri Clark, 8 p.m. tonight, 10 p.m. Saturday, Boulder Station's Railhead: The popular Canadian-born singer is touring behind July's "Greatest Hits 1994-2004" compilation, which spawned No. 1 single "Girls Lie Too."

Clark is also scheduled to sign autographs at Shepler's Western Wear at Sam's Town from 1 p.m. until 2:30 Saturday, a session sponsored by KWNR.

Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson with John Nicholson and James Otto, 7 p.m. Wednesday, House of Blues at Mandalay Bay: Country music's red-hot "Muzik Mafia" collective returns to the House of Blues, where they played a late-night gig following the "Academy of Country Music Awards" show in May.

Big & Rich's "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" was one of 2004's breakout country hits, not to mention the theme song for ESPN's "World Series of Poker" coverage. Wilson also burst onto the scene this year with debut single "Redneck Woman."

"Gretchen has been widely accepted. She's sold more than two million albums, which is huge for a new country artist," O'Brian said. "Big & Rich is definitely more polar. People either love them or hate them."

Randy Travis, 9:30 p.m. tonight through Sunday, Golden Nugget's Theatre Ballroom: The veteran headliner, who alternates between gospel appearances in churches and country sets in concert venues, brings the latter to Downtown Las Vegas this weekend.

Among Travis' slew of No. 1 hits: "On the Other Hand," "Forever and Ever, Amen" and "Three Wooden Crosses."

Keith Urban with Katrina Elam, 7 p.m. Dec. 11, House of Blues at Mandalay Bay: The New Zealand-born, Australian-raised Urban gained full-fledged star status this year with a No. 1 album ("Be Here") and a No. 1 single ("You'll Think of Me.")

After spending years opening for the likes of Kenny Chesney and Brooks & Dunn, Urban embarked on his first headlining tour in October.

Brad Paisley with Pat Green, 10:30 p.m. tonight through Sunday, Las Vegas Hilton Theater: Seventy weeks after its release, Paisley's "Mud on the Tires" remains one of country's top sellers, ranking No. 12 on this week's Billboard's Country Albums chart.

O'Brian recommended Paisley's show with Texas native Green, whose fourth album, "Wave on Wave," reached No. 2 earlier this year.

"Those are two that most people here haven't had a chance to see," O'Brian said. "They have only played here occasionally."

Phil Vassar with Sara Evans, 10:30 p.m. Thursday through Dec. 11, Las Vegas Hilton Theater: Vassar rolls into town with two songs in rotation on country radio and a provocative video gaining steam on Country Music Television.

The Virginian's "In a Real Love" reached No. 1 on the singles chart earlier this year, and follow-up "I'll Take That as a Yes (The Hot Tub Song)" and its accompanying video have built momentum in recent weeks.

Other acts NFR fans might enjoy this week: Tracy Lawrence with Miranda Lambert (Saturday, House of Blues), Gary Allan with Terminally Lonesome and Cross Canadian Ragweed (Tuesday, House of Blues), Ricochet (today through Dec. 11, Stardust), Trace Adkins (Thursday through Dec. 11, Silverton), Clay Walker (Thursday through Dec. 11, Orleans) and comedians Bill Engvall (tonight through Saturday, Stardust) and Rodney Carrington (Dec. 10-11, MGM Grand).