A Ribfest headliner to trump them all

Donald Trump may have picked someone else to be his Celebrity Apprentice, but Ribfest organizers in Naperville have told the show's runner-up he's hired.

Trace Adkins will headline the final day of Ribfest at this year's annual Fourth of July festival.

"We're going to market this differently than we have in the past," said Ribfest Chairman Don Emery.

Traditionally, the last day's entertainment is reserved for a country headliner. The last day of the event usually falls on July 4. Tradition was almost bucked this year because the event runs from July 3 to July 6 and organizers from the Naperville Exchange Club booked proven favorite REO Speedwagon to headline Independence Day.

However, when a hole opened in Trace Adkins' schedule, Ribfest organizers pounced to provide some twang for the event.

Emery said while country music has been a staple of Ribfest, previous acts like Loretta Lynn and Charlie Daniels have been more traditional than Adkins.

"Trace is currently hot," Emery said.

That's a bit of an understatement. Besides coming in second behind Piers Morgan on Celebrity Apprentice recently, Adkins currently holds the top spot on Billboard's country music chart with "You're Gonna Miss This." He also recently had a book published that espouses his no-holds barred viewpoints on a variety of controversial topics making waves in America these days.

Emery said booking Adkins is a big test for the event, since they've never put on an artist like him before.

"You don't know what's going to happen," he said. "Your expectations are different because he's not our traditional country act."

Emery said organizers are close to locking up an opening night performer and could have an announcement by the end of the week. The Saturday headliner should be signed soon as well, he added.

No acts for Ribfest's second stage have been announced yet.