Although a drizzly, overcast day is not what fair organizers hoped for, that's what they were stuck with on Thursday afternoon when the gates opened. But it didn't keep people away.

For the second year in a row, the fair started with a preview day, with rides and exhibits opening at 3 p.m. Even in the damp chill, 37,932 people strolled through.

That beats last year's attendance of 35,215.

If the weather holds, big crowds could fill the fairgrounds this weekend. Saturday's Kellie Pickler concert is sold out, and only a few hundred tickets remain for tonight's Third Day show.

If you're thinking of attending the Blake Shelton or Eric Church concerts, don't dawdle. Tickets for those are going fast. 

Something country, something Christian, something television-related -- and most all if it rather wholesome. Sounds like the live-concert lineup for the 2009 North Carolina State Fair. One headliner is still to be announced, but so far it looks like this:

Oct. 15 -- Jason Michael Carroll
Oct. 16 -- Third Day
Oct. 17 -- Kellie Pickler
Oct. 18 -- Nat and Alex Wolff (from Nickelodeon's Naked Brothers Band)
Oct. 19 -- Jamey Johnson
Oct. 20 -- Temptations featuring Dennis Edwards
Oct. 21 -- Julianne Hough ("Dancing With the Stars" champion)
Oct. 22 -- To be announced.
Oct. 23 -- Jeremy Camp, Tenth Avenue North
Oct. 24 -- Blake Shelton
Oct. 25 -- Eric Church

Guest blogger Claire Meyerhoff sums up last night's results show:

Anoop lives to sing another week and I think it’s because of a certain little lucky charm named Kellie. Our own Carolina Cutie, Kellie Pickler, was the featured former Idol contestant on Tuesday’s kick-off show, and maybe, just maybe she used her Calamari Karma to sing Anoop to safety.

Or maybe Anoop was just lucky Scott was standing next to him in the bottom two.

Kellie Pickler didn't win the CMA New Artist of the Year award (that went to Lady Antebellum) but she was looking snazzy asshe sang "Best Days of Your Life."

Pickler is a native of Albemarle, N.C.

Click to the jump to see more.

Albemarle's own Kellie Pickler is scheduled to perform tonight at the 42nd Annual CMA Awards (8pm, ABC). Pickler, whose current album is 'Small Town Girl,' is also nominated for New Artist of the Year.

Cohosts for the show are Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. Other singers scheduled to perform are Trace Adkins, Kenny Chesney, Sugarland, Alan Jackson, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, the Eagles, and a surprise guest.