Celebrities Who Made the State Fair of Texas Shine

Walking through the State Fair of Texas and bumping into famous faces. That's exactly what happened over the years! Let's take a fun trip down memory lane. Elvis Presley kicked things off in 1956, shaking up the fair with a rock 'n' roll concert at the Cotton Bowl. Then came Garth Brooks in 1990, who was so popular that promoters had to fly a banner announcing his next show during his fair performance. Selena, the Queen of Tejano Music, graced the fair in 1994, just a month before her untimely death. The Dixie Chicks also had their moments, performing in 1998 and 2002, with one show even braving stormy weather to entertain fans. The Jonas Brothers created a frenzy in 2007, drawing thousands of excited fans. A couple of years later, Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez made their fair appearances, each bringing their own energy to the stage. Oprah Winfrey visited in 2009, sampling deep-fried treats and playing games, while Kacey Musgraves and Nelly added their unique sounds to the fair in 2016. Fast forward to 2023, Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons was seen enjoying the fair, and 2024 brought even more stars. Usher stopped by while in town for a concert, and Leon Bridges experienced all the classic fair traditions. Even University of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian got in on the action, trying a Fletcher’s corny dog for the first time.