Josh & Marty May Challenge Willie and Lynyrd at Fair

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Without question Willie Nelson and Lynyrd Skynyrd are receiving most of the early attention from Du Quoin State Fair-goers, but three other country music stars may wind up challenging for largest crowds.

Josh Turner is one of the top up-and-coming stars while Marty Stuart and Connie Smith have a strong long-time following of their own. Turner is appearing at Du Quoin Saturday (Aug. 27) while husband-and-wife Stuart and Smith will be taking over Thursday (Sept. 1).

Turner, no stranger to Country Music Association's awards for newcomers, will be appearing on TV at CMA's Music Festival Sunday, Aug. 7 performing a duet with American Idol star Scotty McCreery. Turner will be performing at Du Quoin with Jerrod Nieman.

At the opposite end of the profession, Connie Smith began her career in 1964 and has experienced all of the possible highs and lows before marrying Marty Stuart in 1997 and staging a comeback. Often considered by music critics and counterparts alike to be one of the finest and most underrated vocalists in country music history, Smith has received practically every honor the industry has to offer.

Dolly Parton once said, "You know there's really only three female singers in the world: Barbra Streisand, Linda Ronstadt and Connie Smith. The rest of us are only pretending."

Stuart sang Connie's signature song, "I'll Come Running" on his TV show several months ago when he performed along with "His Fabulous Superlatives" in their rendition of "Hillbilly Rock" and "The Whiskey Ain't Workin'"

Now a major staple at Du Quoin, the first country music artist ever appearing there was in 1965 when then Fair president Don M. Hayes put together a one-night "Grand Ole Opry Show" which featured Eddie Arnold, Roger Miller, Roy Clark and Minnie Pearl.

Country stars have appeared at every Du Quoin Fair since.

Tickets for all shows are now available by calling the Du Quoin State Fair ticket office 542-1535.