For the Reporter

Timeless artists are hard to come by. Few cherish the voices they were given, sounding as good now as they did 26 years ago.

That is the case with Crystal Gayle and Lee Greenwood, who last performed on the Washington State Fair’s grandstand stage in 1989 – and are returning to perform in Puyallup on Sept. 17 – part of the fair’s Columbia Bank Concert Series.

It will be a night of memories, with songs like “It Had to Be You” and “God Bless the USA” wafting through the state fair.

Tickets are $45 (Golden Circle), $35 and $28 and include fair gate admission. They go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Purchase tickets online or by phone at 888-559-FAIR (3247) daily, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Tickets also can be purchased in person at the fair’s box office at 9th Avenue Southwest and Meridian Street on Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and a $2 per ticket service fee will be charged for on-site purchases.

Crystal Gayle

Most recently, she produced a project, “All My Tomorrows,” a mood influenced collection of American standards, including “Cry Me a River,” “Sentimental Journey,” “It Had to Be You,” and “Smile.” Her earliest roots in country music led to what was at the time in the industry an unusual turn of events: Gayle’s success wave engineered a seamless crossover to mainstream, following the footsteps of Eddy Arnold and Patsy Cline, and continuing the path for other great artist such as Shania Twain and Faith Hill.

Her list of platinum and gold was to be matched only by her awards and accolades. CMA’s “Female Vocalist of the Year,” for two consecutive years, she became a Grammy Award Winner for “Best Female Vocal Performance,” thanks to her beloved “Brown Eyes” – a song that she today admits she has never grown tired of singing.

Gayle swept the Academy of Country Music Awards for three of their “Top Female Vocalist” statuettes. She is the recipient of three “American Music Awards,” voted by the nation as America’s “Favorite Female Artist.” Perhaps nothing sums up Gayle’s career achievements as well as being awarded with a star on the fabled Hollywood Walk of Fame in October 2009.

For more information, visit www.CrystalGayle.com.

Lee Greenwood

He has charted seven No. 1 hits: “I Don’t Mind the Thorns if You’re the Rose”, “Dixie Road”, “Somebody’s Gonna Love You”, “Going Going Gone”, “Mornin Ride,” “Don’t Underestimate My Love For You,” and “Hearts Aren’t Made to Break (They’re Made to Love).”

Greenwood won the CMA Song of the Year in 1985 for writing “God Bless the USA.” The song has been voted the most recognizable patriotic song in America. “USA” is now part of the film for Homeland Security shown when swearing in new citizens to the United States.

“God Bless the USA” went far beyond what Greenwood expected when he wrote it in the back of his tour bus in 1983. The song has been in the top five on the country singles charts three times (1991, 2001 and 2003), giving it the distinction of being the only song in any genre of music to achieve that feat.

Greenwood has won numerous industry awards including, Male Vocalist of the year for the Academy of Country Music in 1983, two Male Vocalist of the Year awards from the Country Music Association, 1983 & 1984 and a Grammy for Top Male Vocal Performance in 1985 for “I.O.U.”.

Greenwood is an icon in country music, with more than 30 albums to his credit. In fact, MCA released an album in 2013 called ICON.

For more information, visit www.LeeGreenwood.com.

Visit www.thefair.com/concerts for updates, or sign up at www.thefair.com to receive email announcements prior to the concert on-sale dates.

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THE CONCERT LINEUP

Date, performance, time, ticket prices (including fair gate admission)

Sept. 11 – Justin Boots Playoff Rodeo, Friday matinee, 1 p.m., $5*/$18

Sept. 11 – Rodeo followed by Colt Ford (country), 6:30 p.m., $35 (Golden Saddle), $25, $30 Standing in Dirt concert

Sept. 12 – Justin Boots Playoff Rodeo, Saturday matinee, 1 p.m., $30, $20, $16

Sept. 12 – Rodeo followed by Dan + Shay (country), 6:30 p.m., $35 (Golden Saddle), $25, $30 Standing in Dirt Concert

Sept. 13 – Justin Boots Playoff Rodeo, Puyallup Finals, 1 p.m., $35, $25, $20

Sept. 14 – “Weird Al” Yankovic – the Mandatory World Tour (comedy), 7:30 p.m., $60 (Golden Circle), $40, $30. Pre-show dinner: $55

Sept. 15 – Heart – “Music = Love Tour 2015” (classic Rock), 7:30 p.m., $90 (Golden Circle), $60, $30. Pre-show party – $32.50

Sept. 16 – Fifth Harmony (Pop), 7:30 p.m., $55 (Golden Circle), $40, $28

Sept. 17 – Crystal Gayle and Lee Greenwood (country), 7:30 p.m., $45 (Golden Circle), $35, $28

Sept. 18 – Terry Fator (ventriloquist), 7:30 p.m., $60 (Golden Circle), $45, $30

Sept. 19 – Keith Urban “Raise Em Up Tour” (country), 7:30 p.m., $100 (Golden Circle), $80, $340. Pre-show dinner: $32.50

Sept. 20 – Chris Tomlin and TobyMac (Christian), 7:30 p.m., $63 (Golden Circle), $48, $38

Sept. 21 – Patti LaBelle with The Tacoma Symphony, 7:30 p.m., $75 (Golden Circle), $50, $28

Sept. 22 – Iggy Azalea (pop), 7:30 p.m., $85 (Golden Circle), $70, $55

Sept. 23 – Duran Duran with special guest Chic (classic rock), 7:30 p.m., $100 (Golden Circle), $80, $60

Sept. 24 – Jake Owen (country), 7:30 p.m., $70 (Golden Circle), $56, $45

Sept. 25 – Kool & The Gang plus En Vogue (R&B), 7:30 p.m., $60 (Golden Circle), $45, $35

Sept. 26 – Jason Derulo (pop), 7:30 p.m., $65 (Golden Circle), $50, $40

Sept. 27 – Pitbull (pop/latin), 7:30 p.m., $100 (Golden Circle), $80, $65. Pre-Show Party: $32.50

* Friday 1 p.m. rodeo does not include Fair gate admission. Gates are open free from 10 a.m.-noon.