2002 RodeoHouston kicks off with Dixie Chicks

A dynamic group that has gone from singing on a Street corner to musical super-stardom with sales of 20 million records, the Dixie Chicks are making their Reliant Astrodome debut on RodeoHouston’s opening night, Feb. 12, 2002.

Even though this is the Dixie Chicks’ first appearance on the RodeoHouston stage, the trio entertained Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo visitors in 1998 at The Hideout, a small club at the Show featuring rising talent. With 2002 being the Rodeo’s final year in the Reliant Astrodome, this will be fans’ only opportunity to see the reigning Country Music Association “Entertainer of the Year” Dixie Chicks entertain Rodeo crowds in the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”

“As Texas gals, you hear about the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo all your life,” said group member Emily Robison.

“It’s the pinnacle of all rodeos and one of the greatest audiences a Texas musician will ever have. To have a chance to perform the opening concert at the Rodeo’s last year in the Houston Astrodome is a historical and meaningful event for the Dixie Chicks.”

“We wanted to open this historical year with excitement, and the Dixie Chicks are just the performers to do that,’ said P. Michael Wells, president of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. “With the Dixie Chicks to open and George Strait to close, RodeoHouston will be top-notch entertainment day after day.”

To add to the occasion, the Rodeo performance will be the Dixie Chicks first concert since their successful FLY tour ended in December 2000. They have already started their list of 2002 accolades with the recent announcement that their album, “Wide Open Spaces,” will be listed in the Guinness World Records 2002 for being the all-time best selling country album by a group.

The 2002 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo opens at Reliant Park with the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, Feb. 7-9, and Go Texan events on Feb. 9-10. The parade and Conoco Rodeo Run will be held in downtown Houston Saturday, Feb. 9. The Houston Livestock Show and RodeoHouston run Tuesday, Feb. 12, to Sunday, March 3.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a 501 ©(3) charitable event, committed to benefiting youth and supporting education throughout the state.

Since presenting its first scholarship in 1957, the Show has committed more than $77 million in scholarships, graduate assistantships, endowments and grant contributions for the youth of Texas.

For ticket information and e-mail updates on future announcements, subscribe to the Show’s e-mail newsletter at www.rodeohouston.com.