NORWICH – Country music star Sarah Johns will headline a new event called “Guitars Under the Stars” at this year’s Chenango County Fair. The performance will bring a nationally known singer to the area for one night in what’s hoped to become an annual event.
Millennium Entertainment, WBKT- 95.3 Big Kat Country and the Chenango County Fair Association will co-sponsor the concert, which kicks off at 7 p.m. Aug. 6 at the grandstand.
“We think Sarah is a great way to start the series,” said Terry Potter of Millennium Entertainment. “She is a new performer and hopefully it will draw out the crowds.” Other acts for “Guitars Under the Stars” have not yet been announced.
Johns burst onto the country music circuit less than a decade ago and already has had hits on the Top 40. The singer, who has been performing since she was a toddler, recently ended touring with country star, Toby Keith.
After singing for her local church, Johns has reportedly said it wasn’t until a sound system operator approached her about her talent that she really went forward with her musical debut.
Encouraged by his words, Johns sang concerts at nearby churches and raised enough money to record a CD. She slowly began to realize following her dream to be a star was within reach.
It is reported on Johns’ website, www.sarahjohns.com, that “what followed was an odyssey with plenty of twists and turns, promise and disappointment, that ultimately led to a debut record that brilliantly captures the huge talent and country sensibilities that have brought her here (to Nashville).”
The new recording artist grew up in Pollard, Kentucky, a town so small it doesn’t appear on a map. Her parents had strict rules of no country music and Johns said it wasn’t until she was 12 that she started sneaking country music, by legends such as Tammy Wynette and Patsy Cline, into her cassette player while she mowed the lawn.
After becoming fascinated with the tunes she was just beginning to discover, Johns said she was exited to get a car a few years later where she could listen to music anytime she wanted.
While attending the University of Kentucky, the performer sang for a year in an area seafood restaurant, Regatta. Backed by only a guitarist, Johns sang variety of “classic-country tunes.”
One night, Johns’ big break came walking through the door at the restaurant. Toby Keith’s manager came to see her and told her she needed to move to Nashville. Johns’ website said, “Within 28 days, I broke up with my boyfriend, quit college and moved.”
After cleaning tour buses and bathrooms while trying to make ends meet in Nashville, Johns got the call from Keith’s manager again and was asked to perform two songs on his tour.
Once on stage, Johns has said she knew right away that center stage, in front of thousands of people was right where she belonged.
Pre-sale tickets are available at Hayes, Nice and Easy, Blueox, Wal-Mart, Price Chopper, at tickets.com or by calling 1-888-223-6006 and cost $7 in advance. Tickets the night of the show cost $10. Grandstand admission is not included in the price of fair admission.