The beautiful redhead with the voice that sends shivers down the backs of all country music fans is upon us. Yes, it’s Reba McEntire, and she’s gonna rock Hilton Coliseum Friday night at 8 p.m.

Don’t ever bet McEntire that she can’t, because she’ll see the bet and raise it every time. After selling 20 million albums, being named the Country Music Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year for an unprecedented four consecutive times, winning two Grammys and being featured in several movies, she shows no signs of slowing down. The only award she hasn’t won is an Oscar, but don’t count her out on that one either.

Reba has learned the hard way that life is fragile. The only way to live it successfully is to grab it by the horns, take calculated risks, keep two steps ahead of your competition and never, ever stop striving for excellence. Those are words to live by right here at ISU.

She’s built an empire called Starstruck Entertainment, which includes a racing stable, jet service company, construction company, three music publishing firms and an advertising business. Not too bad for a gal who once tended cattle on her father’s Oklahoma farm and belonged to the Kiowa High School Cowboy Band.

McEntire’s songs throughout the years have shown to carry powerful messages, evidenced in her single “She Thinks His Name Was John,” a song about a dying woman with AIDS. Although the song never says it, you can’t miss the message: “There is one who never leaves her thoughts, and she thinks his name was John.”

You can bet Reba will entertain with though-provoking lyrics and sheer energy Friday night, but you’ll never guess who her opening act is? Well, a double helping of pleasure and fun will prevail when Rhett Akins and Tracy Byrd open for Reba.

Georgia-born Rhett Akins co-wrote nine of the 10 cuts on his album A Thousand Memories. “He’s a very prolific songwriter, and to be 24 years old and to be able to turn a phrase like that is amazing. I haven’t seen it in anybody quite to this degree,” said Shelia Shipley-Biddy, senior vice-president and general manager of Decca Records.

Akins touches on all of life’s emotions, from the excitement of first-time love in “What They’re Talkin’ About” to the hardships of getting over someone in “A Thousand Memories.” His music has a ring of truth, whether it’s about an unfaithful man or the all-out-fan of “I Break For Brunettes.”

“I hope there’s a believability to my music that reaches people,” Akins said in a press release. “I hope people her it and say, ‘Man, that song hit me right in the heart.'”

The other opening act of pizzazz will be Tracy Byrd whose number-one single, “Holdin’ Heaven,” will send shivers down the crowd’s backs. Another ear-enticing tune is the rocking rural fun in “Watermelon Crawl.”

His songs are more than just good songs; they paint a pretty accurate picture of Tracy Byrd. “I think I’ve got a pretty good sense of humor,” Byrd said in a press release. “I’m not a still conservative guy, and I wanted to show that on this album. I wanted to show we could loosen up and have some fun. People can get a good idea where I come from.”

The show kicks off at 8 p.m. Tickets are $28.50; only single tickets are still available.

They can be purchased at the Iowa State Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets.