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Two parts country, one part rock, a bunch of sex appeal and a dash of soul-baring --- shake well and serve hot with a whole lot of bad-boy attitude. That's the recipe for one country superstar Gary Allan.

Allan's life has been saturated in music. He played bars with his dad when he was 13 years old. At 15, he turned down a record deal with A&M Records. In 1996, Allan signed with Decca Records and began his long, successful career in Nashville, though some see him as a bit of an outsider in country music.

"Hopefully country music feels like they need somebody like me in the fold just to shake things up," Allan said.

He keeps things interesting by easily switching between a country crooner and a rock star. But it isn't about image for Allan, and music has been more than just a paycheck.

In 2004, Allan's wife died by a self-inflicted gun shot. It took some time before Allan was able to write again, but he found music to be a way to escape, and to heal.

"I'm in a good place," said Allan, in a 2007 Associated Press interview. "I sleep well at night and the music has been very healing. No therapist could have done better."

Tracks from the album Tough All Over reveal Allan's heartache. "Best I Ever Had," a heartwrenching ballad, the country artist sings about regretting a lost love and healing.

Then he'll mix things up and play a song with rock riffs, fun lyrics that work with his gritty, rugged voice and style, such as in "Wrecking Ball" and "Like It's a Bad Thing" off the 2007 album Living Hard.

Allan wants to reach bigger audiences than before and share his music with anyone who wants to listen.

"I feel like I've got so much to say and so much to do right now, and things are moving so fast."

Gary Allan with special guest Maren Morris
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 9, 2009, doors at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Las Palmas Race Park, 7509 N. Taylor Rd., Mission
COST: $35
BUY TICKETS: Cavenders, Wireless Toyz, Lionel's Western Wear, Bull Riders, www.ez-tixx.com and by phone 877-993-8499