Illinois country chanteuse Missy Vail has a lot of respect for her genre's past and present, yet she doesn't follow too closely down already blazed musical paths.

"I don't want to be a Patsy Cline, because there already was one, and I don't want to be a Gretchen Wilson because there already is one," she said.

"I like to try my own style music and try to put their flavor in it."

Vail, who lives in Woodhull, a small town in western Illinois, will headline the Fun Time Stage Saturday and Sunday at the 17th annual Chicago Country Music Festival during the 28th annual Taste of Chicago.

Musically inclined since she was a toddler, Vail sang in church choirs and performed in grammar and high school musicals. She was pursuing a degree in communications at Western Illinois University when an internship at Walt Disney World inspired her to write and perform on a larger scale.

Vail turned heads almost immediately; in 2000, she was awarded New Female Artist of the Year by the Illinois Country Music Association, which in subsequent years named her both Artist of The Year and Entertainer of the Year in 2001, 2003 and 2004.

"I put a lot of (stock) into the awards, because these are the people who are my big supporters out there," she said.

"These are the people who are buying my albums, and these are the people who are coming to my shows."

But despite her roots in country music and the accolades she has received, Vail likes to stretch beyond the genre; she also includes elements of pop, hip-hop and classical in her music.

"I think you need to know everything that's out there with the way music crosses over these days," she said.

"You've got to play to your audience, and up at the Taste, I'll probably be doing a bit of everything, because you have a wider variety of audience there."

Vail, whose 2004 effort "I'll Be Here" was recognized by both the Illinois Country Music Association and the North American Music Association International, is working on a new full-length effort.

Her collaborator on the planned platter, which is expected to feature more than a half-dozen self-penned songs, is Nashville tunesmith Charlie Craig, who has written hits over the last three decades recorded by Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and Alan Jackson.

"A lot of good songs are pitched to me, but it has to be something that I have to feel and want to sing," Vail said.

Vail is scheduled to perform at the Fun Time Stage at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Headlining at the Petrillo Music Shell Saturday at the 17th annual Chicago Country Music Festival is veteran hitmaker Kenny Rogers, with modern-day favorites Sara Evans and Craig Morgan performing Sunday.

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17th annual Chicago Country Music Festival

When: Saturday and Sunday

Where: Grant Park, Chicago

Cost: Free

FYI: (312) 744-3315 or www.cityofchicago.org

BREAKOUT:

Listed below are acts scheduled to perform at the Petrillo Band Shell for the 27th annual Taste of Chicago, which opens today and runs through July 8 at Chicago's Grant Park.

Featuring more than five dozen vendors from a wide variety of Windy City restaurants, Taste of Chicago is open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily. Admission is free.

FYI: (312) 744-3315 or www.tasteofchicago.us.

Today (5:30 p.m.) -- Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Lorenzo Owens

Saturday (3 p.m.) -- Kenny Rogers (Chicago Country Music Festival)

Sunday (3:30 p.m.) -- Sara Evans, Craig Morgan

Monday (6 p.m.) -- "Broadway in Chicago"

Tuesday (8 p.m.) -- Grant Park Orchestra (fireworks show)

Wednesday (3 p.m.) -- John Mayer, Robert Randolph & the Family Band

Thursday (5:30 p.m.) -- Lyle Jennings, Musiq Soulchild

July 6 (5:30 p.m.) -- the Black Crowes, Umphrey's McGee

July 7 (5 p.m.) -- Cheap Trick, Soul Asylum, Cracker

July 8 (3 p.m.) -- Los Lonely Boys