Celebrities from the sports, entertainment and outdoors arenas will join Bass Pro Shops to help celebrate an “Evening for Conservation.” A special concert by Grammy Award-winning country music recording artist John Anderson will start the evening. Buddy Jewell, country music artist and winner of the inaugural season of Nashville Star, and Ricky Medlocke, lead guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd, will join Anderson on stage with special performances. NASCAR drivers Martin Truex Jr. and Tony Stewart will attend, as well as original members of the “Alabama Gang” — Donnie Allison, Bobby Allison and Red Farmer. Also appearing will be Auburn University quarterback and MVP of the 2001 Citrus Bowl Ben Leard, Jay Grogan from the University of Alabama, Birmingham native and University of Alabama alum as well as running back for Denver Broncos and the Miami Dolphins Bobby Humphrey, and University of Alabama alum and running back for the Green Bay Packers Paul Ott Carruth. Professional anglers scheduled to appear include legendary anglers and TV hosts Jimmy Houston and Bill Dance, 2000 Bassmaster Classic champion Woo Daves, and Bass Pro Shops Pro Staffer Tim Horton. There will also be special appearances by RedHead Pro Hunting Team members Jim and Angie Ryan and their grandson Hunter, five-time World Turkey Calling Champion Walter Parrott, professional hunter and TV host Rob Keck, TV host Ronnie Smith and renowned hunter Warren Strickland and his daughter Ashley. Other celebrity guests include America’s Billiards star, “The Black Widow” Jeanette Lee; “Miss Alabama” Amanda Tapley, and members of the University of Alabama cheerleading squad. Jimmy Houston will serve as master of ceremonies for the event, with Pastor Buddy Champion of the First Baptist Church of Trussville giving the invocation. Bass Pro Shops was recently named the No. 1 outdoor retailer in America by Sporting Goods Business Magazine. The 150,000-square-foot store will serve as a destination amenity for the Grand River master-planned community along with the spectacular Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum and Park. It is located at the intersection of Interstate 20 and U.S. 78, at Exit 140, in Leeds. The store will open its doors for a preview celebration during the fundraising event and ribbon-cutting ceremony today from 6 to 9 p.m. It is all free and open to the public. For every $1 spent during the “Evening for Conservation,” 50 cents will be donated to the “More Fish” campaign of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, to save fish and their habitats. Local conservation groups will sell food and drinks courtesy of Johnsonville and Coca-Cola, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting those organizations. Local conservation groups on hand Wednesday evening include the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, Quail Unlimited, Alabama Department Conservation and Natural Resources, Safari Club International, Quality Deer Management Association, Freshwater Land Trust, the Alabama Marine Police and the Alabama Wildlife Federation. They will have booths and displays set up to help educate and communicate to customers about their ongoing efforts and local projects. Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops President Jim Hagale, former Leeds Mayor James “Tac” Whitfield, Leeds Mayor Eric Patterson, Moody Mayor Joe Lee, St. Clair County Commission Chairman and Chairman of Leeds Cooperative District Stan Batemon, and other city and county officials along with Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World store manager Harley Willis are among those scheduled to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Racing enthusiasts will get to see the Bass Pro Shops No. 1 Sprint Cup Series race car, the No. 20 Bass Pro Shops Sprint Car, Bobby Allison’s No. 12 Miller car and the Dale Earnhardt shrine. Other special exhibits include the Bass Pro Shops hot air balloon and the King of Bucks mobile display of 25 world record whitetail mounts. The Grand Opening celebration begins Thursday, Nov. 20, and will continue through Sunday, Nov. 23. The store will open at 8 a.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. — or normal opening hours — Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. Sunday. The celebration will include special exhibits, more celebrity guests, storewide savings and fantastic giveaways. Guests may visit with experts on fishing, hunting boating and more. Displays from the outdoor industry’s top manufacturers will be featured, and factory reps will be on hand to answer questions. Part museum, art gallery, education, conservation and entertainment center, the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Leeds will also offer equipment for hiking, backpacking, camping, outdoor cooking and more. Shoppers will find outdoor apparel for men, women and children, along with a fine selection of outdoor, casual and athletic footwear. A gift and nature shop serves up a wide variety of outdoor-related items, from lamps and dishes to bird feeders and furniture. The store will also offer free outdoor skills workshops for adults, children and families.