A grand lineup for State Fair

The Minnesota State Fair has landed at least two hot tickets for this year's grandstand: Kelly Clarkson and Kid Rock.

Clarkson, the first "American Idol," scored a No. 1 song this winter, "My Life Would Suck Without You." After disappointing sales for her third album, Clarkson's new CD, "All I Ever Wanted," debuted at No. 1 in March. After headlining KDWB's Star Party on May 14 at Mystic Lake Casino, the on-the-rebound Clarkson will return to Minnesota to the teen-friendly fair on Aug. 30. Tickets, priced at $35, will go on sale May 16.

Kid Rock also got hot again last year thanks to the smash "All Summer Long" from "Rock n Roll Jesus," his best-selling album in seven years. His Detroit hip-hop-meets-redneck rock concert at Target Center in May 2008 was howlingly entertaining. Kid Rock teams up with Lynyrd Skynyrd, the enduring southern rockers and grandstand veterans, on Aug. 29. Tickets, priced from $41 to $66, will go on sale May 9.

The biggest curiosity at the grandstand will be popular ventriloquist Jeff Dunham on Sept. 7.

Filling the grandstand's traditional country slots will be old-school crooner and "American Idol" coach Randy Travis on Sept. 1 and rising, rock-influenced star Jason Aldean, known for "Johnny Cash," "Hicktown" and the current "She's Country," on Aug. 28.

For the jam-band party crowd, the fair has booked O.A.R. and Brett Deneen on Sept. 2.

For baby-boomers, the grandstand will feature two Rock and Roll Hall of Famers who have been performing in the Twin Cities since the 1970s -- Bonnie Raitt with Taj Mahal on Aug. 27 and Jackson Browne on Aug. 31.

Since grandstand-goers love classic rock, the fair has turned once again to REO Speedwagon and Styx on Sept. 5. For a bonus, .38 Special will open.

Rounding out the schedule are Casting Crowns, the popular Christian group from Georgia, on Sept. 3, and Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion," at the grandstand for the sixth consecutive year on Sept. 4.

For more information and ticket details, go to www.mnstatefair.org.

Jon Bream • 612-673-1719