Ronnie Dunn adds star power to show at Orleans

The 2012 Coyote Country Fest will provide a feast for country music lovers and reality TV fans.

Ronnie Dunn - half of the former country duo Brooks and Dunn - is scheduled to perform Saturday at the Orleans Arena, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave. His solo album was released in 2011.

Dunn will be joined by "American Idol" finalists Lauren Alaina and Bucky Covington as well as Maggie Rose and acclaimed singer-songwriter Phil Vassar.

Vassar, known for his singles "Just Another Day in Paradise," "In A Real Love" and "Last Day of My Life," plans to do an unplugged segment on a grand piano.

"It's just gonna be me with the piano," Vassar said by phone. He was in the middle of a sound check before a performance in Toledo, Ohio.

Acoustic sets can be challenging because it's just you and the piano, he said. But he loves the intimacy with the audience that an acoustic show can provide.

"I'm just going to have to rock them without a band," he said. "It will be fun."

Reality TV fans will probably recognize Alaina from season 10 of "American Idol." The runner-up of that season, she released her debut album "Wildfire" in October, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard country charts.

Covington appeared on season five of "American Idol" in 2006. A year later, his self-titled debut hit No. 1 on the country charts.

The show is presented by country radio station KYCE-FM, 102.7.

Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@review journal.com or 702-380-4564. Follow @StripSonya on Twitter.