Jessie Murph Draws 49,000 at NYS Fair, Second-Largest Crowd in Festival History

SYRACUSE, NY — Rising country-pop star Jessie Murph made history Friday night at the New York State Fair, drawing an estimated 49,000 fans to Suburban Park. According to fair officials, it marks the second-largest concert crowd in the fair’s history, just behind Lainey Wilson’s 53,200 attendees in 2023.

Country Stars Dominate the Top Spots

Murph’s performance adds to a trend of country artists commanding massive NYS Fair audiences. With Wilson holding the all-time record and Megan Moroney drawing 47,000 fans in 2024, country singers now occupy the top three spots in the fair’s concert history.

Moroney even made headlines last year when she changed the lyrics of her hit “Tennessee Orange” to “I’m wearing Syracuse Orange for him” as a nod to the crowd.

Jessie Murph’s Meteoric Rise

At just 19, Jessie Murph has quickly become one of the breakout stars of 2025. Her music blends country roots with alternative pop, creating a crossover appeal that has brought her to the top of streaming charts.

She currently averages 16 million monthly Spotify listeners, with popular tracks including “Wild Ones” (with Jelly Roll), “Pray,” “Always Been You,” “High Road” (with Koe Wetzel), and “Blue Strips.”

Her growing popularity was on full display at the NYS Fair, where her crowd nearly doubled the size of some headliners from past years.

Measuring Record Crowds

All concerts at the New York State Fair are free with admission, which costs just $8 — a fraction of the $135.92 average concert ticket price for the top 100 tours last year, according to Pollstar.

Fair officials calculate attendance using a grid system across Suburban Park and Chevy Court. Multiple staffers estimate crowd density in seating, grassy, courtyard, and paved areas, comparing tallies during the performance. The result is typically accurate within 5 percent.

NYS Fair’s Top Concert Crowds

The fair has hosted many unforgettable performances, but the largest audiences highlight both legacy acts and modern stars. Among the top 10 concerts in fair history:

• Lainey Wilson — 53,200 (2023)
• Jessie Murph — 49,000 (2025)
• Megan Moroney — 47,000 (2024)
• Nelly — 43,000 (2022)
• Flo Rida — 42,000 (2024)
• A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie — 40,610 (2018)
• Ludacris — 39,400 (2023)
• Rick Ross / City Girls — 39,000 (2024 / 2022)
• Foreigner — 38,000 (2022)

Classic acts such as Steve Miller Band (36,900 in 2015) and Chicago (31,200 in 2016) also remain among the top 30.

Why It Matters

The NYS Fair has become a unique platform for artists to connect with massive audiences at no extra ticket cost, often creating defining moments in their careers. For Jessie Murph, joining the ranks of Lainey Wilson and Megan Moroney signals her rapid ascent into country music’s top tier — with crossover potential that could soon make her a household name.

As the 2025 fair continues, Murph’s landmark performance stands as a reminder of the event’s enduring cultural impact — and how it continues to shape music history in New York. For more on major festivals, concerts, and record-breaking performances, follow ChicagoMusicGuide.com.