NBC’s America’s Got Talent can add another Branson entertainer to their list of acts that have passed through the first round of their competition. Gun-slingin’, rope-twirlin’, bull-whippin’ cowboy Johnny Lonestar is on his way to Las Vegas for the next round.

Johnny Lonestar was born and raised in Smithtown, NY. He started trick-roping at the age of 15. At 17, he won the “Will Rogers Rookie of the Year” award. By age 20, he received his first professional job on the Las Vegas strip performing rope-twirling, gun-spinning and whip-cracking. Johnny took his act to Branson, and has been here for the past 13 years. Within that time he has also performed in Japan, Biloxi, Pigeon Forge, and Atlantic City. In 1999, Johnny received the “Novelty Act of the Year” award in Branson. He is now in his third year of the Clay Cooper’s Country Music Express show. In January 2000, Johnny married his wife Cat, and they had their first child Dominic, in June of 2005.

Tune in to NBC on Tuesday, July 10 and Wednesday, July 11 at 7pm for America’s Got Talent’s Las Vegas Call Back Round!

Clay Cooper’s Country Music Express performs at the Clay Cooper Theatre at 8pm Tuesday through Sunday and 10am on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Comments Off on Johnny Lonestar’s Got Talent

Branson Entertainment Hall of Fame and Branson Mall join forces; feature Leroy Van Dyke, Ronnie Prophet and T.G. Sheppard

Branson, Missouri; Monday, July 2 2007 – The Branson Entertainment Hall of Fame and the Branson Mall, 2206 West Highway 76, announce another new venture the “Branson Hall of Fame Theatre”. Grand Opening Festivities will feature the premier of “Country Gold Concerts” starring Leroy Van Dyke of “Auctioneer” and “Walk On By” fame on June 28, 29 and 30.

Ken Barth of the Branson Mall stated, “We worked diligently to find quality entertainment. Mr. Van Dyke’s schedule will allow him to perform 16 weekends of the remaining season; Ronnie Prophet will be here for eight weekends and T.G. Sheppard for one weekend. This will be a huge boost for the Branson Mall and a great collaboration between the theater and the Branson Entertainment Hall of Fame.

Leroy Van Dyke is immediately associated with the “self-penned” Number One Hit “The Auctioneer,” and perhaps most notably for recording “Walk On By,” the biggest country music single in history based on record sales, media plays, and number of weeks on the charts. In addition to his extraordinary recording career, Leroy Van Dyke has been a member and star of the “Grand Ole Opry;” one of the first country artists to successfully fill venues in Las Vegas; and a favorite at State Fairs and Expositions for decades.

Ronnie Prophet is a member of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, and is always a favorite when he performs in Branson. Prophet is known for his colorful high-energy shows that combine song, comedy, impersonations and his considerable skill as a guitarist. His quick wit has brought him work as a Master of Ceremonies at festivals (i.e.. the Wembley Festival of Country Music in England) and for CCMA awards ceremonies and a succession of Country Music Television Programs in Canada. He has also performed on BBC TV and on tour in Great Britain and Europe.

Special Guest Star T.G. Sheppard (July 26,27 & 28) has become one of the most consistently played artists on country radio today, with 17 Number One singles to his credit. Hits like “Last Cheater’s Waltz,” “I Loved ‘Em Every One,” and “Finally” have been the key to creating T.G.’s identifiable musical style.

Comments Off on All New Branson Hall Of Fame Theater