Kelly Clarkson to play OC Fairgrounds in July

The first American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson, will perform July 23 at the Pacific Amphitheater in Costa Mesa, Calif., at the 2009 OC Super Fair. The show will start at 8 p.m.

Clarkson's latest album, All I Ever Wanted, was released in March 2009 and includes the hit track "My Life Would Suck Without You." It is her fourth studio album since winning the Idol crown in 2002. Her other mega-hits include "Since U Been Gone," "Because of You" and "The Trouble with Love Is."

Notably, Clarkson wrote the song "Irvine," off 2007's My December, after her Irvine, Calif., show at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on Aug. 1, 2006. The song was written in the venue's bathroom after she canceled her meet-and-greet. She was burned out, heartbroken and at the lowest point in her life. Clarkson later called the song a "prayer."

Traffic tip: Signs on the 405 freeway might tell you to exit Fairview to get to the fairgrounds. A less congested way is to take the Harbor exit, then make a left onto Fair Dr. Also use Harbor when you're heading home. The entrance to the 405 off of Fairview has several lights and can back up very quickly.

For more info: Tickets are $45 and available now. As of June 17, seats were available in the middle rows of section 2, which is in the second level, right in the middle of the amphitheater. Pretty good seats.