Byrd cancels Fair show

August 30, 2005

CASEY RESSLER\Frontiersman Valley Life editor

The Byrd has flown the Alaska State Fair coop.

Country superstar Tracy Byrd was set to perform at the fair tonight, but canceled Monday due to a family illness. Country artist Billy Dean will play tonight at the Borealis Theater in Byrd's place.

"Our booking guys have great contacts and were able to pull this off in a day," said Krista Holta of the Alaska State Fair. "There are a lot of country fans in Alaska, and that's why we tried to fill the date with another country artist."

Holta said there will be a refund policy in place for those holding tickets for the Tracy Byrd concert, although on Monday afternoon, she said she wasn't sure what the policy would be. She said people should check www.alaskastatefair.org, for current information.

Those who have Tracy Byrd tickets and want to see Billy Dean may simply bring their tickets to the concert tonight.

"It's the same time, same pricing information, same everything else," she said. "The Tracy Byrd tickets will all be honored at the Billy Dean concert."

The cancellation disappointed hundreds of Tracy Byrd fans. The concert was sold out by Monday morning.