May 14, 2019 For Immediate Release

Johnny Lee to Headline 4th Annual BBQ Cook-Off May 31

FORNEY, TX – The City of Forney is excited to announce that Texas icon Johnny Lee will be kicking-off the 2019 BBQ Cook-Off at the Spellman Amphitheater, 241 S. FM 548, on May 31. A member of the “Texas Country Music Hall of Fame”, Lee is most famous for his 1980 hit “Lookin for Love” from the soundtrack of . The song would become Lee’s first “Gold Record” and spend three weeks at Number 1 on the Billboard Country Music Charts and Number 2 on the Pop Music Charts. Other Top 10 hits from Lee include “One in a Million”, “”, “”, “” and many more.

Opening for Lee will be Okemah, Oklahoma native Shawna Russell. The Way Out West Records recording artist has spent a good deal of her life writing songs and travelling the roads of America performing her music. Her songs have charted on several U.S. lists including Texas Music, Billboard “New and Active” and Christian Music Charts. She now hosts “Our Land – The Music Highway” a television show on The Country Network, that focuses on Americana/Texas/Red Dirt music and includes performances and interviews.

In addition to our Friday night kick-off concert there will be an all-ages steak competition and a cornhole tournament benefitting the Forney Police and Fire Associations. Saturday will be full of live music, featuring several music artists including Brandon Bamburg, Reece Norris, Justin Kemp, Hat Tr!ck, Chaz Marie and INTXS along with local vendors and interactive family activities.

Registration is still open for anyone interested in competing in the cook-off. The entry fee is $150 for one or all meats, and $20 entrance fee for all jackpots. The cook-off will be sanctioned by the International Barbecue Cookers Association (IBCA) and again benefits the Forney Food Pantry and Sharing the Love Foundation.

For more information about the event, please visit www.cityofforney.org/bbqcookoff.

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For more information, contact: Tony Carson, City Manager 972.564.7300 Kyle Rouvaldt, Public Information Officer 972.571.0762