‘Redneck Woman’ singer headlines fair

Ford County Fair

June 22-28

329 E. Third St.

Melvin, Illinois

MELVIN, Ill.— Country music singer and songwriter Gretchen Wilson will perform at the 99th Ford County Fair on June 27.

Wilson, of Pocahontas in south-central Illinois, made her debut in March 2004 with the Grammy Award-winning single, “Redneck Woman,” that hit the top of the Billboard country charts. The song served as the lead-off single of her debut album, “Here for the Party.”

Wilson followed this album one year later with “All Jacked Up,” the title track of which became the highest-debuting single for a female country artist upon its 2005 release. A third album, “One of the Boys,” was released in 2007.

Overall, Wilson has charted 13 singles on the Billboard country charts, of which five reached the top 10. She has sold over 8.2 million records worldwide.

Wilson joined the cast of a new music competition show, “The Road,” which will premiere on CBS in the fall of 2025. She will serve in the role of “tour manager” alongside costars Keith Urban and Blake Shelton as they travel America looking for the “next big musician” who will open for Urban on tour.

Dalton Davis will be the opening act. The emerging country music artist spent the last few years honing his craft on the road opening for acts such as Midland, Dwight Yoakam, Roger Allen Wade, Texas Hill and many more.

Raised in gospel music, his winding road to country music went from playing bass on the road to working as a worship pastor to figuring out his own sound in a house full of rappers and rhythm and blues singers.

The Ford County Fair will also feature a car show on June 24 featuring classic, custom and exotic cars, followed the next day by an antique tractor show. A demolition derby kicks off at 6:30 p.m. June 25.

Other highlights include livestock and home judging competitions, rides, the Ford County 4-H premium auction, petting zoo and much more.

Details of the Ford County Fair can be found at fordcountyfair.org.