Milton country star Jimmie Allen must be rubbing off on his Grammy Award-winning friend Nelly, because the rapper is starting to spend almost as much time in Delaware as he does.
The fair announced Nelly (with Chase McDaniel) as its first concert announcement for the 2023 Delaware Lottery Summer Concert Series at the M&T Bank Grandstand during a Facebook Live on Tuesday.
Tickets go on sale at noon on Friday, Nov. 18.
No other concerts have been unveiled for the 10-day fair yet, but the date for the 2023 Demolition Derby also was announced Tuesday. It will be held Friday, July 28, 2023.
Firefly Music Festival started his trend
Nelly’s recent trend of playing consecutive years in Delaware started when he was tapped to grace the stage at the Firefly Music Festival in The Woodlands of Dover in 2021.
After delivering a scorching set at Firefly, the “Hot in Herre” rapper made it hard for fans to keep their clothes on. But the revelers complied.
In July, “The Longest Yard” actor returned to the Small Wonder to headline the M&T Bank Grandstand in Harrington for another sweaty, good time.
It was the first time a rapper hit the stage since the fair hosted Flo Rida in 2009.
Jimmie Allen & Nelly toured together
Jimmie Allen and Nelly collaborated on the song “Good Times Roll,” which appeared on the singer’s EP “Bettie James” in 2020. The album title is a homage to Allen’s late father, James Allen, and late grandmother, Bettie Snead.
Allen was a special guest on select dates for Nelly’s “Lil Bit of Music Series” tour, which the singer joined in December 2021.
It’s unclear how long Nelly’s streak of playing in Delaware will last. But he’s getting a lot of love from folks who are happy to see him heat up the stage around Slower Delaware.
Perhaps it’s because the crowd downstate appreciates his “Country Grammar” a little more.
Facebook fans: ‘Getting hot in here’
Most fans on the State Fair’s Facebook page can’t wait to see him, except for a few who aren’t crazy about the multi-platinum selling artist.
“getting hot in here,” one person wrote.
“they used to bring in some big country names….now it’s been crap year after year,” an unimpressed commenter said.
“Nelly is coming back to the fair I can’t believe it?!?” one shocked person wrote.
“So excited seeing Nelly this will be my 3rd year seeing him in Delaware he always puts on a good show,” a fan chimed in.
We’ll keep you up to date about the full entertainment lineup as it’s unveiled.
The Delaware State Fair will be held Thursday, July 20 through Saturday, July 29, 2023.
Nelly will perform at the Delaware State Fair at (18500 S. DuPont Highway Harrington) at 7:30 p.m., Friday, July 21, 2023. Tickets are $39-$74 (plus service fee). They go on sale Friday at noon. For more information, visit delawarestatefair.com (302) 398-3269.
More Fun Delaware Stories
Marvel-ous:Superhero actress from ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ lives in tiny Delaware
Delaware man is up against Beyoncé: She stands between him and a Grammy Award
Merry & Bright:‘A Longwood Christmas’ glows with half a million lights that take months to install
Big Mac Spinoff:We rate 7 vegan dishes from Delaware restaurants. One has a Big Mac spinoff
