JUNE 11 Trisha Yearwood And Lori McKennaWolf Trap, $22-$40

Trisha Yearwood may have married mentor Garth Brooks in 2005, but the Georgia singer has maintained her own, distinctly Southern musical identity. Her 2007 album "Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love" supplements mainstream country tracks with the old-school R&B of "Nothin' 'Bout Memphis," the traditional country of "We Tried" and the hillbilly swing of "Cowboys Are My Weakness."

An even better country album last year was Lori McKenna's "Unglamorous," co-produced by Tim McGraw. McKenna returned country to its working-class roots with songs about blue-collar couples who get by even if it means putting "peanut butter on everything."

JUNE 22 Emmylou Harris, Jimmy Gaudreau And Moondi KleinWolf Trap, $22-$40

Last month, Emmylou Harris was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, marking the final acceptance by Music Row of this folk singer from Woodbridge. Harris proved that Dylanesque lyrics and Beatle-like rhythms were a natural fit for country music, and her early country singles, including Paul Simon's "The Boxer" and Chuck Berry's "You Can Never Tell," paved the way for many artists. Harris's new album, "All I Intended to Be," will be released June 10. Joining her will be Jimmy Gaudreau and Moondi Klein, one-half of the late, great new-grass band Chesapeake.

JULY 12 Brad Paisley, Jewel, Chuck Wicks And Julianne HoughNissan Pavilion, $25-$54.50

Like Vince Gill, Paisley is a movie-star-handsome singer who also happens to be a terrific lead guitarist. Also like Gill, Paisley straddles the fence between sentimental radio fare ("Letter to Me" was a No. 1 country hit last year) and more ambitious songwriting (Paisley has recorded songs by Guy Clark and Jon Randall). The crucial difference? Paisley has a knack for comic novelty songs, such as last year's hit about searching his girlfriend for "Ticks."

JULY 30 Willie NelsonWicomico Youth and Civic Center, $38.50-$48.50

Nelson was one of the most reliable live acts in the '80s and '90s, but in recent years health problems have sapped his focus and stamina. So it was a welcome revelation in March to see him perform in Austin, looking healthy, singing and playing guitar better than he has in a decade. The set list never changes much (though it accommodates impressive songs from his new album, "Moment of Forever"), but the arrangements keep getting looser and weirder.

AUG. 9 Gretchen WilsonWolf Trap, $25-$42

Wilson runs the risk of getting trapped in the cartoon she created for herself, much as Dolly Parton has. Wilson made a name for herself as the "Redneck Woman" who could party as hard as any man. Thanks to her indefatigable energy and powerful pipes, she played the role well, but she soon hinted that she was a more complicated, more interesting singer than her shtick advertised. At her live shows, she often sang songs recorded by the Stanley Brothers, Billie Holiday and Heart, and she did them all justice. Despite its title, "One of the Boys," her album last year explored life outside the cartoon frame and suggested that she may be the one enduring artist to come out of the Muzik Mafia scene.

-- Geoffrey Himes