Star spectacular
State talent to shine for Centennial
State talent to shine for Centennial

By Brandy McDonnell

Published: November 16, 2007

Vince Gill has a mental image of the glory and grandeur of the Oklahoma Centennial Spectacular.

"It will be the circus and the fair all in one,” he said with a laugh. "You won't be able to see another one (like it) for 100 years.”

The culmination of the state's multiyear 100th birthday party, the Oklahoma Centennial Spectacular will feature an unprecedented gathering of homegrown talents. The capstone centennial event will begin at 7 tonight at the Ford Center.

Country music superstars Gill, Toby Keith, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood and Garth Brooks will headline the concert.

Special guests will include Gov. Brad Henry, the Flaming Lips, All-American Rejects, Johnny Bench, Bobby Murcer, Bart Conner, Nadia Comaneci, Blake Shelton, Amy Grant and Jimmy Webb. Byron Berline, Argus Hamilton, Leona Mitchell, Kelli O'Hara, Patti Page, Barry Switzer, Rance Howard, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Canterbury Choral Society and Oklahoma City University American Spirit Dance Company also will represent the state.

Oklahoma's five living Miss Americas — Lauren Nelson (2007), Jennifer Berry Gooden (2006), Shawntel Smith Wuerch (1996), Susan Powell (1981) and Jane Jayroe Gamble (1967) — will appear, too. Shirley Jones, who starred in the 1955 film "Oklahoma!,” and Willard Scott, the "Today” show personality, will be among the guests wishing the state a happy birthday. A video of Centennial Poet Laureate N. Scott Momaday reading the centennial poem will be shown.

"What we've all strived for all along is excellence. We hope that the Centennial Spectacular will be the kind of show that will have us standing tall and proud going into the next century,” Centennial Commission Executive Director J. Blake Wade said.

The centennial celebration started in 2002 with the dedication of the state Capitol dome, and the party has included hundreds of landmark unveilings, festivities of every variety and floats in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day and Tournament of Roses parades. The Spectacular will be an emotional high-water mark, Wade said.

"It's by Oklahomans and for Oklahomans, and by the end of it, there's not going to be anybody who isn't proud to be a part of this once-in-100-years celebration,” Wade said.

Keith, who was born in Clinton, raised in Moore and lives in Norman, said, the performers and guests are a "who's-who from Oklahoma.” "You always kind of fantasize as a kid about being in a position where somebody would want to call you, you know, when you're dreaming as a kid of what you want to grow up to be someday.”

"It's like a dream world ... that somebody'd even consider you to be in that group of who's-who,” Keith said in a recent interview.

Underwood, who was raised in Checotah, said the show's lineup includes some of her country music idols.

"I think it's amazing that they could get everybody, because this is a really busy time of year,” she said on the red carpet at the recent CMA Awards in Nashville. "It's just great to get everybody together in one place and celebrate Oklahoma with really successful musicians from Oklahoma.”

McEntire, who was born in McAlester and raised on a Chockie cattle ranch, said she is thrilled to be included in the show, especially since her longtime friend Gill will be there, too.

"I think it will be a fun event, and (I'm) looking forward to being a part of it and very honored they asked me to be a part of it,” McEntire said in a recent interview.

Gill, who was raised in Oklahoma City, credited the centennial commission, especially Lee Allan Smith, chairman of projects and events, with planning an event worthy of the "spectacular” title.

"I think it's going to be neat, by everybody that's agreed to come and honor the great state that we all come from. You know, it matters so much to me where I'm from, 'cause it's the reason I am who I am. ... The kind of person that I am is because of my upbringing and where I was raised. So I don't ever lose sight of that,” Gill said in a recent interview. "So, to get to be included in celebration of 100 years of statehood is pretty great. ... And everybody's that's a good Okie is turning up.”

Gill, who penned the centennial theme "Oklahoma Rising” with Webb, said the lineup captures the state's spirit.

"That's what I love about it. It's all-inclusive. It's everybody, and not just the big stars,” he said. "I like that. I like that it's a very democratic mind-set of pride for the state.”

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