Country star Bush visits Kalispell

The Northwest Montana Fair welcomes country artist Kristian Bush as this year’s headline act  on the grandstand stage at 7:30 p.m. today.

Bush said in a recent phone interview that he is excited about the upcoming performance and visit to Big Sky country.

“I love it — I love Montana,” Bush said.

Bush said he is a big believer in writing songs that send a positive message.

“Is there a responsibility to put a good message in it?” Bush said. “Yes, I think it answers its own question.”

In addition to his music, Bush is as a celebrity ambassador for Goodwill Industries International, with his song “Trailer Hitch” featured as the centerpiece of their #GiveItAway campaign.

Before the evening concert, fans are invited to stop by the Kalispell Goodwill Store from noon to 2 p.m. today for a free meet-and-greet with Bush.

There will be a donation truck at the concert and fans are encouraged to donate gently used clothing, electronics and small household goods. Donors with a bag or more of items at the concert will be eligible to win prizes, including autographed copies of Bush’s album, “Southern Gravity,” Goodwill gift cards, tickets to the rodeo and more.

“We carry around a lot of things in our lives, physically and metaphorically,” Bush said. “Goodwill provides an answer, and as an ambassador I get to be part of that.”

Bush said being an ambassador for Goodwill and participating in the #GiveItAway campaign has been “very humbling.”

“I get to see first-hand what [Goodwill] is doing for people,” Bush said. “I get to hear their stories, and that’s the most important part.”

The Kalispell Goodwill Store is located at 2137 U.S. 2 E. For more information on the organization and its mission, visit www.easterseals.com, find it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KalispellGoodwill, or call 406-758-0240.

A Grammy Award winner, Bush — best known as half of country duo Sugarland — has been leaving his mark on music for more than two decades.

The singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist started his career with folk-rock duo Billy Pilgrim in the early 1990s; in 2004, he exploded onto the country music scene with Sugarland, surpassing sales of more than 22 million albums worldwide, achieving five No. 1 singles and winning numerous awards.

To date, Bush has received six BMI Awards for his songwriting, and in 2011 he founded the music publishing company and songwriting collective Songs of the Architect. Recent collaborators include Laura Bell Bundy, Larkin Poe, Dan Tyminski, Lucy Hale and others.

Bush’s debut solo album “Southern Gravity” was released earlier this year. Bush said that while his part in Sugarland has been rewarding, he was happy to have a chance to shine on his own.

“This is a hopeful, joyous album in ways I never saw coming,” Bush said. “It provided a real chance for my message to be heard.”

Bush said the making of “Southern Gravity” provided some unique challenges.

“We overwrote for it,” Bush said, estimating he had more than 300 songs to choose from when putting the album together. “We had to decide ... What album is this album? What message am I putting out there?”

Tennessee singer/songwriter Kelsea Ballerini will open for Bush tonight. Ballerini is a newcomer to the country music scene and is having great success with her first release, “Love Me Like You Mean It.”

Tickets for tonight’s concert range from $30 to $35 for adults (based on seating) and $15 for children ages 6 through 12. Doors open at 6 p.m. The event is rain or shine, and children 5 and younger get in free.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call 406-758-5810 or visit www.nwmtfair.com.

Entertainment Editor Stefanie Thompson can be reached at 758-4439 or ThisWeek@dailyinterlake.com.