Calling all Cowboys

Dance with who brung you to National Finals Rodeo entertainment this year.

Two names tied to TV talent contests, Miranda Lambert and reborn headbanger Sebastian Bach, are the major exceptions to a tried-and-true roster of country singers and comedians.

You have to go 15 spots down Billboard's country singles chart to find a current hit you can hear live in Las Vegas this year: Blake Shelton is sure to sing "She Wouldn't Be Gone" at the Silverton next weekend.

But in the No. 17 spot is Brooks & Dunn, singing "Don't Cry" with Reba McEntire. Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn had their first NFR booking in 1992, and their song "Cowboy Town" was the official theme for last year's competition at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Brooks & Dunn, back at the Las Vegas Hilton today through Sunday, came seven years after the Charlie Daniels Band played in 1985, the rodeo's first year in Las Vegas. Daniels keeps his streak unbroken Thursday and Dec. 12 at the Golden Nugget.

Country's top deck of superstars -- Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood and the like -- know they can play the Strip any time, and may even prefer to be here when there aren't so many choices.

Bach, on the other hand, embraces a whole new set of fans when he plays the Las Vegas Hilton on Wednesday and Thursday, with his country mentor John Rich and Cowboy Troy.

Bach won the second season of Rich's "Gone Country," whooping both Sean Young and Lorenzo Lamas in the contest where actors and singers from other genres see who can pull off the best chameleon move into a cowboy hat.

"For me, it's cool because I think it expands country music a bit," Rich told the Review-Journal earlier this year. "With the music of Big & Rich and artists like Cowboy Troy and Gretchen (Wilson, whom Rich produced and wrote songs for), we realized that what we were doing was some never-done-before type of country music.

"And then we watched it hit and watched it connect, and my phone starts ringing. People are going, 'Hey, I'm kind of like what you're doing. Could you help me figure this out?' "

The Hilton shows are likely to preview Rich's solo album, "Another You," which comes out Jan. 12. And who knows? He might just reprise his election-season anthem "Raisin' McCain," just because he can.

The rest of the rodeo roster (for times and prices, see Showguide starting on Page 10):

THIS WEEKEND

Pat Green -- A champion of Texas and its historic honky-tonks, Green released a book called "Dance Halls & Dreamers" this year. (Sunday and Monday, Golden Nugget)

Lee Greenwood -- Can you weave "God Bless the USA" into a medley of Christmas carols? Find out when Greenwood brings "A Tennessee Christmas" to the desert. (Sunday, The Orleans)

Miranda Lambert -- She didn't win "Nashville Star" in 2003. But, like a lot of "American Idol" contestants can tell you, sometimes it's better not to. (Today and Saturday, Golden Nugget)

Sawyer Brown -- It's the band that telegraphed the whole "Nashville Star" thing with a "Star Search" victory in 1983. (Today, Boulder Station)

Travis Tritt -- After touring with Marty Stuart for an acoustic encore of their "No Hats" work in the '90s, Tritt plugs back in with his Georgia country-rock. (Today and Saturday, Tropicana)

Clay Walker -- Another veteran who has been part of rodeo week since at least 1996, Walker has turned his fight against multiple sclerosis into the charity effort Band Against MS. (Today and Saturday, Silverton)

Ron White -- The Scotch-sipping "countrypolitan" member of the Blue Collar team is welcome year-round on the Strip. (Today and Saturday, The Mirage)

MIDWEEK

Gary Allan -- His roughneck Bakersfield, Calif., sound is the House of Blues' only concession to rodeo week. (Thursday and Dec. 12, Mandalay Bay)

Rodney Carrington -- Has the recession busted your strip-joint budget? Fear not. When singer-comic Carrington says "Show Them To Me," someone always does. (Monday through Dec. 13, MGM Grand)

Bill Engvall -- The comedian was here for NASCAR weekend, but you didn't think he would miss the rodeo, did you? (Thursday and Dec. 12, Treasure Island)

Ronnie Milsap -- One of the main crossover acts of the '70s, with hits such as "Smokey Mountain Rain," is still going strong at age 65. (Tuesday and Wednesday, Golden Nugget)

NEXT WEEKEND

Jo Dee Messina -- For some reason, most of the women wait until the second weekend. Messina played Primm in March, but saves you some gas money this time. (Dec. 12-14, The Orleans)

Lorrie Morgan -- If you're a fan, buy a ticket. The singer, who married three other country singers and once dated presidential candidate Fred Thompson, filed for bankruptcy in October. (Dec. 13, Eastside Cannery)

Gretchen Wilson -- John Rich's "Come to Bed" duet partner shows up at the Hilton the very next night, raising all sorts of surprise guest possibilities. (Dec. 12 and 13, Las Vegas Hilton)

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.