Award-winning country music singer/songwriter Jamey Johnson will be in concert at Cattleman Park Arena tonight following the close of the Pike County Cattlemen’s 2013 PCA Rodeo. The Jamey Johnson Concert is expected to begin around 9:30 p.m.

Tickets are $25 for the rodeo and concert and will be available at the gate. Concert tickets alone are $25.

Ed Whatley, executive director, Pike County Cattlemen’s Association, said the Cattlemen are extremely proud and honored to be able to bring Johnson to the Cattleman Park.

“It is through the generosity of Jamey, his dedication to young people and his roots in Pike County that he’s here,” Whatley said. “Jamey has great admiration for hard-working kids, especially those who are involved in agriculture. He is a strong supporter of 4-H, FFA and youth steer and heifer programs, all youth programs.

Johnson’s roots in Pike County were put down early in life.

“Jamey’s dad came to Troy and opened the Super X drug store that was located in the shopping mall where the Courtyard is now,” Whatley said. “Although, Jamey was born in Enterprise, he was brought home to Pike County, where he lived the first five years of his life. So, his roots are here and he still has strong ties to Pike County.”

Whatley said the Pike County Cattlemen wanted to bring Johnson to Cattleman Park but realized that it would be cost prohibitive.

“We were upfront with Jamey and told him that we wanted him to perform at our PCA rodeo but really couldn’t afford what he was accustomed to getting,” Whatley said. “Because he’s the kind of man he is and because the Pike County Cattlemen sponsor youth programs and because he’s one of us, Jamey offered to come for a fee that we could afford.

“Jamey said he wanted to do something for the Pike County Cattlemen and Pike County and we really appreciate his support and his generosity.”

Johnson lived in Montgomery and graduated high school there. He is a graduate or Jacksonville State. He is a former Marine and an avid outdoorsman, who hunts and fishes. “Jamey is a ‘great country boy,’” Whatley said.

Johnson has had success as a singer and songwriter. His album, “The Guitar Song,” was met with overwhelming praise and universal acclaim. The album debuted at number four on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number one on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums. The album sold 63,000 copies its first week of release.

Johnson was the supporting act on Kid Rock’s 2011 Born Free Tour and accompanied Kid Rock on a duet or two.

Johnson is joined on his album, “Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran,” by Vince Gill, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, Alison Krauss, Willie Nelson, George Strait, Lee Ann Womack and Asleep at the Wheel.

He and Alison Krauss performed “Make the World Go Away” on “The Late Show with David Letterman.”

Gates for tonight’s Pike County Cattlemen’s 2013 PCA Rodeo will open at 5:30. Concessions will be available and vendor booths will open early. The rodeo will get underway at 7 p.m. with the Jamey Johnson Concert to follow.