Six-ish degrees of separation

The summer is heating up and the degrees are rising. Check out these connections between the main stage performers playing at the Kentucky State Fair, August 20-30.

Six ½ degrees of Gavin DeGraw and Kelly Clarkson

1. Gavin DeGraw’s hit, “I Don’t Want to Be,” was the theme song for television teen drama, “One Tree Hill.”
2. Actor Chad Michael Murray, the star of “One Tree Hill,” portrayed the protagonist Nick Jones in the 2005 thriller “Wax House.”
3. Alongside Murray, Paris Hilton tested her acting skills in “Wax House.”
4 1/2. Hilton’s BFF is Nicole Richie, whose father Lionel Richie, was included on the soundtrack for “40-Year-Old Virgin” with his song, “Hello.”
5. The 2005 cult comedy hit “40-Year-Old Virgin” stars comedic actor Steve Carell.
6. Carell screams out Kelly Clarkson’s name while getting his chest waxed.

Ten degrees of Taylor Swift, Gloriana and Kellie Pickler

1. Taylor Swift’s debut single in 2006 was “Tim McGraw,” named after the country singer.
2. Tim McGraw starred in the 2008 holiday film “Four Christmases” with actor Jon Voight.
3. Jon Voight’s daughter is Angelina Jolie.
4. Jolie starred in “The Good Shepherd” with actor Billy Crudup.
5. Crudup graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where Gloriana band member, Tom Gossin attended before pursuing a career in music.
6. Gloriana lead singer, Cheyenne Kimball, won “America’s Most Talented Kid” in 2002, hosted by Mario Lopez.
7. Lopez auditioned to be Bob Barker’s replacement on the game show “Price is Right.”
8. Tyra Banks made a guest appearance on the “Price as Right,” as one of Bob Barker’s beauties.
9. Tyra Banks starred in the film “Coyote Ugly,” in which LeAnn Rimes made a cameo appearance.
10. Kellie Pickler sang LeAnn Rimes’ “On the Side of Angels” at her high school graduation.

Six degrees of Keith Urban and Pat Green

1. Country superstar Keith Urban is married to Aussie actress Nicole Kidman.
2. In Nicole Kidman’s first wedding, Emilio Estevez was Tom Cruise’s best man.
3. Estevez was married to Paula Abdul for two years.
4. Abdul was the judge on “American Idol” when Kyle Ensley made it to the top 25 in season 7.
5. Ensley was a member of FarmHouse Fraternity – as was country singer, Pat Green.

Tickets are available at the Freedom Hall & Kentucky International Convention Center Ticket Offices and all Ticketmaster outlets. Charge by phone at (502) 361-3100 or 1-800-745-3000, or purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com using ticketFast.

For more information on other exciting Kentucky State Fair entertainment and events, visit www.kystatefair.org.