For the Reporter

Country music artist Jennifer Nettles That Girl Tour comes to the Washington State Fair for a 7:30 p.m. performance Sept. 8, part of the Columbia Bank Concert Series.

With eight No. 1 singles (“Baby Girl” and “All I Want to Do”) under her belt, Nettles has taken the country music by storm since Sugarland was formed in 2004. In 2008 she received individual acknowledgement for the platinum-selling No. 1 hit, “Stay,” receiving a Grammy Award, ACM Award, and CMA Award.

Tickets are $75 (Golden Circle), $50, $40 and $30 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.

Young and talented

Nettles was born in Douglas, Ga., and began performing in school assemblies, at her Southern Baptist church, and in community theater in her earlier years.

She received her degree from Agnes Scott College in Decatur, graduating in 1997. While there, she and Cory Jones formed the group, Soul Miner’s Daughter, releasing two albums.

In 1999 she formed the Jennifer Nettles Band, releasing three studio albums and two live albums. The band was selected the grand prize winner from more than 2,000 bands in “The Big Deal $100,000 Music Search,” presented by Mars Music.

In 2003 she teamed up with Kristen Hall and Kristian Bush to form Sugarland. The group was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best New Artist category in 2006. That same year, Kristen Hall left the group. Nettles and Kristian Bush continued on as a duo, and released Enjoy the Ride in November 2006.

The duo performed “Who Says You Can’t Go Home, with rock band Bon Jovi, reaching No. 7 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, and No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. In early 2007 Nettles and Bon Jovi won a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Collaboration.

Late 2008 brought three Grammy Award nominations to Sugarland. They won awards for Best Country Song, and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group. In April 2009 they received the Academy of Country Music’s Vocal Duo of the Year Award, which ended Brooks & Dunn’s nine-year run. They received the honors again in 2010 and 2011. Sugarland has sold over 22 million albums/singles worldwide.

In May 2013 Nettles announced that she would begin work on a solo album. Her first solo, “That Girl” was released in August, and the album of the same name was released on January 14, 2014.

For more information, visit www.JenniferNettles.com.

More acts will be announced in the coming months for the 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. 8: Jennifer Nettles That Girl Tour 2014, (country), 7:30 p.m., $75 (Golden Saddle), $50, $40, $30

• 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.