LeAnn Rimes to perform at Naperville's Ribfest

Country music star LeAnn Rimes will headline the third night of this summer's Ribfest celebration in Naperville, organizers announced Thursday.

The two-time Grammy Award winner, who has sold more than 37 million records after bursting on the scene with the hit "Blue," will perform July 3 on one of the festival's main stages at Knoch Park near downtown.

Rimes was the first country performer to receive the Best New Artist award in the history of the Grammys. Her "Can't Fight the Moonlight" was the No. 1 song in 11 countries and "How Do I Live" was the longest-running single ever on the Billboard Hot 100, spending 69 weeks on the chart.

"We stress to everyone involved, even the performers, that Ribfest is a charitable event aimed at ending child and domestic abuse," spokesman Ray Kinney said. "LeAnn Rimes is involved in several great charities of her own as well, so we see her as a great fit to our event."

Rimes also adds a little more country flair to a lengthy list of recording artists scheduled to perform during the four-day festival sponsored by the Naperville Exchange Club.

Other acts already booked for Ribfest include The Charlie Daniels Band, Los Lonely Boys, Jonny Lang, Sammy Hagar, Foghat, Blue Oyster Cult, Limited Edition Big Band, 7th Heaven, Tonic, Sister Hazel and the Giving Tree Band.

"We have a great group of volunteers working really hard to get us the best acts out there, so we're really excited," Kinney said. "We feel that we've really got a little something for everyone in this lineup."

But they're not done yet, he said. Volunteers still are working to finalize contracts with at least two more main stage acts.

Festival Chairwoman Julie Lichter said this year's celebration will feature two main stages with big screens. The spots still to be filled are for the July 2 show opposite Hagar and the July 3 show opposite Rimes.

"We're working on a little tighter budget now, but we expect to have all our stuff wrapped up by next week," Kinney said.

Now in its 23rd year, Ribfest will be open from noon to 10 p.m. July 1 through July 4, and culminate with a fireworks display.

For more on this year's Ribfest, visit ribfest.net.