Concert canceled due to singer's illness

Wednesday night’s Chris Young concert at the Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo was canceled just a few hours before the scheduled show.

Young was hospitalized late Tuesday night in Colorado. According to his website, Young was en route to Kalispell when he was taken to a Denver-area hospital with a leg infection. He was listed in stable condition.

“I’m so sorry to disappoint the fans, but I didn’t even know I was sick,” Young said in a release on his website. “One minute I was fine, then suddenly I’m being rushed to the hospital. I’m looking forward to being up and around and back on the road.”

“Everybody at the Northwest Montana Fair sends our thoughts and prayers to Chris for a speedy recovery,” Fairgrounds Manager Mark Campbell said Wednesday.

In place of the Young performance, the fair offered a free concert featuring the RedHead Express, Bruce and Betsy Mullen and John Dunnigan.

“We sincerely regret this inconvenience and the short timing of notice,” Campbell said.

Those who had concert tickets got free admission to the fairgrounds.

The refund process will begin Tuesday, Aug. 20, at the fairgrounds for those who purchased tickets by cash or check. Credit-card purchases will be refunded automatically beginning Aug. 20.

Campbell encourages customers to hold onto their tickets as proof of purchase. More details about refunds will be forthcoming.

For more information about the 2013 Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo, visit www.nwmtfair.com.