Tuesday, December 11th, 2018
Montgomery Gentry tops lineup for fair entertainment
By William Kincaid
CELINA - Country superstars Montgomery Gentry with Eddie Montgomery and Phil Vassar will take over the grandstand on Aug. 9 to kick off the 2019 Mercer County Fair on a high note.
Fair organizers revealed the exciting country music double bill on Monday morning.
"It's been an act that we wanted to get for a while," fair manager Cara Muhlenkamp told the newspaper, pointing out all the logistics finally came together to make the booking a reality.
The platinum-selling country duo Montgomery Gentry over a nearly two-decade run racked up numerous awards, charted more than 20 singles - among them "If You Ever Stop Loving Me," "Something to be Proud Of," and "Lucky Man" - and earned entry into the Grand Ole Opry in 2009.
Though Troy Gentry died in a tragic helicopter crash on Sept. 8, 2017, Eddie Montgomery decided to soldier on under the Montgomery Gentry banner.
"We talked about it a long time ago. We both said, 'If one of us goes down, we want the MG brand to keep going,' " Montgomery said in a news release. "I will continue to honor him and our friends."
The group's latest album, 2018's "Here's to You," was recorded before Gentry's untimely passing.
Phil Vassar, who will open the Aug. 9 show, is a veteran country road warrior, playing more than 135 gigs each year. Named ASCAP's Country Songwriter of the Year in 1999, Vassar went on to chart 10 No. 1 singles and 26 Top 40 hits, among them, "Six-Pack Summer" and "When I Love You."
Tickets go on sale Friday and can be purchased at the fairground office in person or by calling 419-586-3239. They can also be purchased online at mercercountyohiofair.com/tickets. They range in price from $25 to $50.
Fair officials have cemented their reputation as providers of top-notch country music concerts over the years, booking Neal McCoy, Joe Diffie and Walker Hayes in 2018; The Brothers Osborne and Granger Smith in 2017; Gary Allan and Ray Scott in 2016; Josh Thompson, Craig Campbell and Eric Paslay in 2015; Rodney Atkins and The Swon Brothers in 2014; and Joe Nichols and Angie Johnson in 2013.
In response, country music fans have flocked to the fairgrounds each year. August's Neal McCoy and Joe Diffie was an 80 percent sellout, a 4 percent increase over 2017's country music show.
This year, organizers put on their first Christian music concert featuring the Newsboys and special guest Adam Agee. It, too, was a great success with an estimated 76 percent turnout.
Organizers will disclose details of the fair's 2019 Christian concert in April.
