For the Reporter

Toby Keith’s Shut Up and Hold On Tour invades the Washington State Fair on Sept. 20, part of the Columbia Bank Concert Series.

Having sold more than 40 million albums worldwide, the country music superstar has established a stronghold in the country music industry.

With more than 40 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, he is known for singles “How Do You Like Me Now?,” “Beer for My Horses,” “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” and “As Good as I Once Was.”

Tickets are $100, $80 and $40 with reserved seating and include fair gate admission. Tickets will start selling at 10 a.m. Saturday on the fair website or by phone at 888-559-FAIR (3247) daily from 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. to 2 p.m., and a $1 per ticket service fee will be charged for on-site purchases.

To make it a very special evening, ticket holders to the concert can purchase a Toby Keith “Red Cup” Pre-Show Party ticket for $30 each, held in the fair VIP Tent. The price includes a street taco bar, one drink, plus a country DJ and line dancing from Steel Creek Whiskey Co.

The artist

Toby Keith was born in Clinton, Okla., in 1961. His grandmother owned Billie Garner’s Supper Club in Fort Smith, Ark., and those musicians were the inspiration for his interest in the music business.

While working with friends as derrick hands in oil fields after high school graduation, they decided to form a band, Easy Money. When the oil industry dried up in 1982, he began playing defensive end with the semi-pro Oklahoma City Drillers, while continuing to play in the band. In the early 1990s he went to Nashville, promising himself he’d have a record deal by the time he was 30.

His debut single, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1993. As the decade came to a close, it was the most played country song of the 1990s, certified platinum.

Over the years he has worked with a range of record labels before founding Show Dog Nashville in 2005. His record label merged with Universal South to become Show Dog-Universal Music in December 2009.

This singer, songwriter and actor has produced 17 studio albums, two Christmas albums and three compilation albums. His release in late 2012, Hope on the Rocks produced two singles, both Top 20 hits, “I Like Girls That Drink Beer” and “Hope on the Rocks.” In mid-2013 “Drinks After Work” became the first single from his 17th album of the same name. The second single is “Shut Up and Hold On.”

For more information, visit www.TobyKeith.com.

More acts will be announced in the coming months for the State Fair’s Columbia Bank Concert Series. Visit www.thefair.com/concerts for updates, or sign up at www.thefair.com to receive email or text announcements prior to the concert on-sale dates.

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STATE FAIR ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP

Date, performance, time, prices

• Sept. 5: Justin Playoffs Rodeo, 1 p.m. Friday matinee, $5*/$18

• Sept. 5: Clay Walker concert following rodeo (country), 6:30 p.m., $50 (Golden Saddle), $40, $30, $40 (standing in the dirt)

• Sept. 6: Justin Playoffs Rodeo 1 p.m. Saturday matinee, $30, $20, $16

• Sept. 6: Colt Ford concert following rodeo (country), 6:30 p.m., $35 (Golden Saddle), $25, $20, $30 (standing in the dirt)

• Sept. 7: Justin Playoffs Rodeo, Puyallup Finals, 1 p.m., $35, $25, $20

• Sept. 9: Chicago/REO Speedwagon (classic rock), 7:30 p.m., $80 (Golden Circle), $50, $40. Pre-show dinner: $55**

• Sept. 13: An Evening with Keith Urban, “Light the Fuse Tour” (country), 7:30 p.m., $100 (Golden Circle), $80, $40. Pre-show dinner: $55**

• Sept. 15: Florida Georgia Line (country), 7:30 p.m., $90 (Golden Circle), $70, $40, “Shine On” Pre-Show Party $30

• Sept. 17: Michael W. Smith/Amy Grant (Christian), 7:30 p.m., $50 (Golden Circle), $40, $30

• Sept. 18: Jeff Dunham (comedy), 7:30 p.m., $75 (Golden Circle), $50, $40. Pre-show dinner: $55**

• Sept. 2: Toby Keith, “Shut Up and Hold On” Tour, (country), 7:30 p.m., $100, $80, $40, “Red Cup” Pre-Show Party: $30**

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

** Pre-show dinner does not include Fair gate admission or concert ticket.