Martina McBride will play Bureau County Fair as one of her first shows back from COVID-19

Almost 21 months have passed since Martina McBride has been able to do a live show, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bureau County Fair will be one of the country music star’s first dates since beginning to tour again.

“We’re so excited,” McBride told a reporter for Shaw Media. “Princeton will be one of our first dates. We’re gearing up, rehearsing and just can’t wait to get back out there.”

The Bureau County Fair was canceled last year — only the second time in its 166-year history. McBride’s concert was rescheduled for Thursday, Aug. 26.

Perhaps best known for her powerhouse vocals, McBride is a multiple Grammy-nominated artist who has garnered six No. 1 hits and 20 top 10 singles. Selling more than 18 million albums to date, McBride has earned 14 Gold, nine Platinum, three Double Platinum and two Triple Platinum certifications.

Her albums span three decades and those who attend her show can expect to hear a mixture of her top hits, a few covers, some album cuts and a few off her newest album, “Wreckless,” McBride said. “Wreckless” was released in 2016 and is her 13th studio album.

McBride said her favorite songs to perform live include “This One’s for the Girls,” “Wild Angels,” “Independence Day,” “A Broken Wing” and “Love’s the Only House.”

McBride said she tours often in Illinois.

“It’s the heartland. A lot of great country music fans are there,” McBride said.

Aside from gearing up for tours, McBride said she will have an exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Martina McBride: The Power of Her Voice opens Friday, July 30, and will encompass the Kansas native’s journey from performing in her family’s band as a child to becoming an award-winning country music artist.

“That’s really exciting,” she said. “That’s a bucket list item.”

She’s also releasing her “Greatest Hits: The RCA Years’' double LP next month to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her signing date with RCA records, her first record label.

Bureau County Fair Board President Kyle Burrows said concert planning for the fair begins one year in advance. Because of the pandemic, this concert has been in the works for two years.

“Martina’s name had been brought up to our entertainment committee a couple times,” Burrows said. “Through our usual selection process, she came to the top and we were able to secure her.

“We were happy to work to have her come to the fair,” he said.

Tickets sales have been strong, Burrows said, with the vast majority of those who purchased tickets in 2020 planning to attend this year’s show.

No action is necessary for those who purchased tickets last year. Those who received a refund will need to purchase new tickets, he said.

If you go

When: 8 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 26.

Where: Bureau County Fairgrounds, Grandstand, 831 Peru St., Princeton

Tickets: bureaucountyfair.com

Note: Concert tickers purchased last year that were not refunded will be honored at this year’s concert. Refunded tickets will not be honored.