IOWA STATE FAIR

What are the top-selling musical performances at the Iowa State Fair Grandstand so far?

Des Moines Register

A large crowd arrives before Chris Stapleton performs during the sold-out country music concert on the Grandstand stage at the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, in Des Moines.

The Iowa State Fair sure knows how to pull in audiences. Shows at the Grandstand broke attendance records in 2021, pulling the largest crowd since its 2018 renovation, with Chris Stapleton's appearance drawing 17,320 people to the Kum & Go Stage. The concert from the country superstar passed the 17,032-person record previously held by hometown metal band Slipknot in 2019.

With acts such as Nelly, Demi Lovato, Carrie Underwood, and Disturbed in 2022, the State Fair is ready to open the gates for Grandstand acts. But which shows are already sold out? And how does attendance look for Brooks & Dunn, Kane Brown, and Skillet? Here's a look at ticket sales for this year's State Fair Grandstand acts as of Aug. 1.

More:5 new things at Iowa State Fair 2022, including a world record attempt and fresh events

More than 14,000 tickets sold

Brooks & Dunn

Fans are buying up tickets to see Kix Brooks, left, and Ronnie Dunn.

When: 8 p.m., Aug. 12

Tickets: $47 to $92

Special guest: Alex Miller

Both of the two top-selling performances of the fair have sold more than 14,000 tickets, putting both shows near the roughly 15,000 capacity mark for the venue before roughly 2,000 additional tickets go on sale for standing room only.

Brooks & Dunn is composed of the long-standing country combination of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, who have appeared at the Iowa State Fair nine times from 1992 to 2009. The duo is famous for songs like "Play Something Country" and "My Next Broken Heart."

Opening for the classic country duo that night is country music up-and-comer Alex Miller, who appeared in Season 19 of "American Idol." Last year, Miller released "Don't Let the Barn Door Hit Ya" and his first full album, "Miller Time" earlier this year.

More:Brooks & Dunn bring 'Boot Scootin' Boogie' and more country hits to the Iowa State Fair

Carrie Underwood

When: 8 p.m., Aug. 21

Tickets: $45 to $100

Special guest: Adam Sanders

Country superstar Carrie Underwood, who plays on the final night of the 2022 State Fair, comes in second with ticket sales so far.

Underwood, who's appeared at past State Fairs in 2007 and 2015, rose to fame after winning "American Idol" in 2005. Since then, she's put out hits such as "Something in the Water" and "Before He Cheats" and has garnered seven Grammy Awards.

Opening for Underwood is country music singer-songwriter Adam Sanders, who's written music for the likes of Luke Bryan, Dustin Lynch and Blake Shelton. Last year, he released his album "What If I'm Right."

More:Country music star Carrie Underwood heads to the Iowa State Fair Grandstand this summer

More than 10,000 tickets sold

Kane Brown

When: 8 p.m. Aug. 18

Tickets: $45 to $90

Special guest: Jessie James Decker

Country artist Kane Brown already sold nearly 13,000 tickets. The country star is famous for songs such as "Used to Love You Sober" and "Whiskey Sour." Since he came onto the music scene in 2015, he's earned five American Music Awards and collaborated with artists such as H.E.R. and Chris Young.

Opening for Brown is Jessie James Decker, a pop country singer who's produced songs such as "Should Have Known Better” and “The Woman I Have Become.”

More:Budding country star Kane Brown plays the Iowa State Fair Grandstand this summer

Keith Urban

When: 8 p.m., Aug. 20

Tickets: $45 to $90

Special guest: Ingrid Andress

Iowa State Fair organizers wanted country star Keith Urban to return to the Grandstand since his last appearance in 2020 was canceled due to the pandemic. His ticket sales are just about back to where he was in 2020 with a little more than 12,000 tickets sold.

The four-time Grammy Award winner is known for hits such as "You'll Think of Me" and "Blue Ain't Your Color." Last year, when Urban was forced to cancel his appearance at the State Fair due to an "unforeseen scheduling conflict" he was replaced by pop duo Dan + Shay.

Ingrid Andress, who plays before Urban, will be familiar to some central Iowans. She performed in 2021's Big Country Bash. The rising country artist has released songs such as "More Hearts Than Mine" and, in collaboration with Sam Hunt, "Wishful Drinking."

More:Keith Urban announced as Iowa State Fair's first 2022 Grandstand act after his 2021 cancellation

Alanis Morissette

When: 8 p.m., Aug. 15

Tickets: $45 to $95

Special guest: Morgan Wade

Hot on Urban's heels in ticket sales, Alanis Morissette, who's sold roughly 11,500 tickets so far.

The rock star rose to fame with her 1995 album "Jagged Little Pill" — which recently inspired a Tony-winning musical of the same name — and has since continued to foster a prolific career. Her releases since that debut album include "Ironic" and "All I Really Want."

Opening for Morissette is country singer Morgan Wade, who — in the few years she's been active — has released songs such as "Take Me Away" and "Wilder Days."

More:Alanis Morissette brings her girl-power anthem 'You Oughta Know' to the Iowa State Fair

Nelly

When: 8 p.m., Aug. 13

Tickets: $30 to $55

Special guest: Ginuwine

Hip hop star Nelly is about to hit 11,000 tickets sold for his Grandstand show this year.

Nelly's debut solo album in 2000, "Country Grammar," has had a lasting influence on hip hop and remains one of the bestselling releases of the genre. Since then, he's continued to release songs such as "Hot In Herre" and "Just a Dream."

Opening for Nelly is R&B singer-songwriter Ginuwine who, in addition to solo performances, is part of TGT with fellow musicians Tank and Tyrese Gibson.

More:Famed hip hop artist Nelly will make his debut appearance at the Iowa State Fair 2022

Less than 10,000 tickets sold

ZZ Top

When: 8 p.m., Aug. 16

Tickets: $40 to $60

Special guest: Ann Wilson

Classic rock band ZZ Top, who will be playing the Iowa State Fair as part of the group's Raw Whiskey Tour, sold roughly 6,500 tickets.

The band has a substantial catalog of hits that include "La Grange," "Legs," and "Sharp Dressed Man."

Last summer, bassist and original member Dusty Hill died at age 72, and Elwood Francis, who already worked with the band as a guitar tech, has filled his spot.

Special guest Ann Wilson, the lead singer from the rock band Heart, will open for the ZZ Top. Her debut album "Hope & Glory" was released in 2007 and her latest solo album, "Fierce Bliss," came out in April.

More:Rockers ZZ Top fill out the Iowa State Fair Grandstand lineup with Heart's Ann Wilson

Disturbed

When: 8 p.m., Aug. 19

Tickets: $40 to $85

Special guest: Chevelle

Disturbed, a rock band famous for songs such as "Land of Confusion" and "Down with the Sickness," is on par for ticket sales with ZZ Top.

Disturbed emerged from Chicago in the 1990s and, since then, went platinum with albums like "Ten Thousand Fists" and "Immortalized."

Alt-metal band Chevelle, known for "Send the Pain Below" and "Red," opens for Disturbed.

More:Get 'Down with the Sickness' when Disturbed with Chevelle play the Iowa State Fair

Demi Lovato

When: 8 p.m., Aug. 14

Tickets: $35 to $65

Special guest: Not yet announced

Sitting at roughly 5,500 tickets sold is Demi Lovato, the pop music artist who became a household name more than a decade ago starring in Disney Channel projects such as "Camp Rock" and "Sonny with a Chance."

In the time since then, Lovato has released hits such as "Give Your Heart a Break" and "Sorry Not Sorry." Her latest album, "Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over," was released alongside a similarly titled documentary.

Though a special guest has not yet been announced for Lovato, State Fair organizers have said that an announcement for a performer filling that spot will be forthcoming.

More:Pop star Demi Lovato brings 'Sorry Not Sorry' and more to the Iowa State Fair Grandstand

Skillet

When: 8 p.m., Aug. 11

Tickets: $30 to $55

Special guest: Dante Bowe

Skillet, the Christian alternative band that kicks off Grandstand performances on the very first day of this year's State Fair, also sold about 5,500 tickets.

The group has released noteworthy hits such as "Monster" and "Hero." Early this year, the band put out its latest album "Dominion."

Taking the stage ahead of Skillet is Dante Bowe, a worship singer whose noteworthy releases include songs including "Champion" and "Joyful."

John Crist

When: 8 p.m., Aug. 17

Tickets: $30 to $60

Special guest: Dusty Slay

Currently trailing in ticket sales at nearly 5,000 sold, John Crist is the only non-musical Grandstand act for this year.

Crist is a stand-up comedian who performs sketch comedy videos on YouTube and Buzzfeed. His comedy focuses on his experiences as a Christian in the modern day as well as more general social topics.

Opening for Crist is Dusty Slay who, at the age of 36, became the youngest comedian to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. He was one of "Variety" magazine's 10 comics to watch in 2019 and has appeared in three seasons of Netflix's "The Standups."

More:Christian comedian John Crist to appear on the Iowa State Fair's Grandstand this summer

Tickets, as well as more information about all these shows and other State Fair activities, can be found at iowastatefair.org.

More info on the Iowa State Fair

Isaac Hamlet covers arts, entertainment and culture at the Des Moines Register. Reach him at ihamlet@gannett.com or 319-600-2124, follow him on Twitter @IsaacHamlet.