The headliners named for the 2009 Stagecoach festival will give plenty of draw for the SoCal country audience, with genre heartthrobs Brad Paisley making his festival debut and Kenny Chesney returning after topping the bill in 2007. Reba McEntire should delight that same audience with her throwback country style but updated media personality. Kid Rock could add appeal for a crossover audience with his rap rock style.

Miranda Lambert provides some balance to the hunks in the country chick department, where the initial lineup looks to be otherwise somewhat light. This is an initial lineup only, however.

I'll let the country music bloggers and media analyze the bookings from the Nashville perspective. Festival Preview has followed Stagecoach since its 2007 debut more for its side stages, where an impressive array of alt-county, Americana, bluegrass and western artists have been featured.

The 2009 lineup offers some interesting names in these related categories, which combine to give Stagecoach a well rounded character that differentiates it from other pure Big Country blowouts. A few names that jump out at me are:  Read more »