Alex Miller took the Missouri State Fair grandstand stage Friday night, followed by Frankie Ballard in a completely different show than originally announced by the Fair months ago.

Colter Wall, Charley Crockett and Tom Montana were originally scheduled to play the Aug. 20 show at the 2021 Mo State Fair, but that changed earlier this week.

Instead, Alex Miller and Frankie Ballard got the call less than 48 hours before the show, because the original performers announced they would not be able to make it to Sedalia.

Tickets holders for the Colter Wall show could attend the Frankie Ballard show with no problem. Or they could get a refund, the Fair said on Wednesday night.

Country-blues-rocker Frankie Ballard mixes an American heartland rock sound with traditional country and blues. His album Sunshine & Whiskey produced three consecutive number one singles – the platinum-certified “Sunshine & Whiskey,” the gold-certified “Helluva Life,” and one of the Top 3 Billboard Country Airplay songs of 2015, “Young & Crazy,” according to the Fair.

Alex Miller is a champion of traditional country music, with an arresting voice, an infectious personality and charm to spare. Launched to global audiences during American Idol, Season 19, Alex is described by those who have met him as a young man who is going places, and his loyal fans are ready to follow where he leads, According to the Fair.

In an exclusive interview with Townsquare Media's very own Rob Creighton and Mike Pettis, Alex Miller talked about how his appearance on American Idol has changed his life from student a year ago, to a nationally recognized entertainer now.

“I'm one of the very few people that's fortunate COVID happened, because if it hadn't been for that, I wouldn't got to do American Idol. It come up & I didn't have nowhere to play, I just thought I'd do that on a whim. It's just completely took my career off, and I'm so thankful for it, and glad that I'm out here at the Missouri State Fair,” Miller said.

The concert drew approximately 600 people to the grandstand, and from all appearances, they were thoroughly entertained. Numerous cell phones were glowing as they live streamed and recorded the performers.

After his show was over, Ballard strolled over to the Bud Stage and joined Dirt Road Addiction on their stage for an impromptu performance, as evidenced by a couple of facebook videos.

And according to Pettis, Miller also sat in for a set with DRA.

Tonight (Saturday), Hank Williams Jr., is the headliner at the Aug. 21 grandstand show, which starts at 7:30. Williams is sure to draw a huge crowd of country music lovers to the 2021 Missouri State Fair. Opening for Williams is Walker Montgomery.

The 2020 Fair saw no performers at the stage due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Randy Kirby
Randy Kirby
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