Patti LaBelle, the 'Godmother of Soul,' shines in performance at 2023 Ventura County Fair

Patti LaBelle played party host on Thursday, the second night of the Ventura County Fair.

The Godmother of Soul carefully guided the audience through her set, introducing songs with funny anecdotes and skillfully hitting high notes to her own hits and covers.

The singer, actress and entrepreneur wasn’t shy about sharing the stage with her band and audience members, letting them take center stage throughout the show.

Her band, dressed in white and black, began the show before LaBelle walked out in a long, shiny yellow coat. Once she took off the coat, she revealed a green dress so bright the audience could see it from afar.

LaBelle enthusiastically sang her hits “New Attitude,” “On My Own” and “Lady Marmalade,” as well as fan favorites “Love, Need and Want You," "Somebody Loves You Baby (You Know Who It Is)" and "If Only You Knew."

"It feels so good," she said before performing "When You Talk About Love." "I am 79 years young. Hey, nothing wrong with being 79. Don't hide it. It's a blessing. Trust me. God bless you all."

LaBelle also covered David Allan Coe’s “Tennessee Whiskey” and sang a few verses from Donna Summer’s “Bad Girls.” Her backup singer Aaron Marcellus, who joined her on "On My Own" for some Michael McDonald-esque vocals, sang lead on the Kirk Franklin song "Something About The Name Jesus."

She gave time to multiple members of her band including DJ Aktive, who blended snippets of the Commodores' "Brick House" and Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirt."

LaBelle invited audience members to the stage to sing and dance during “Lady Marmalade” to close out the show.

Ernest Cooper, known as local drag queen Cooper The Queen, said it was a once-in-a-lifetime moment to join LaBelle on stage.

"I grew up on her music, and it was a dream come true to share the stage even for a minute with the queen," said the Oxnard resident. "When she took my hand, I felt all of that amazing energy that comes from a life lived full."

Cooper, who will host a Ventura County pride event Aug. 19, said the LGBTQ+ community truly looks up to LaBelle.

"Maybe not a lot of people know, this but she has been an icon in the queer community standing up for us for many many moons," Cooper said. "I am so proud to get the chance to stand next to such an icon."

Faith Maki of Huntington Beach and Chris Smalley of Port Hueneme were first in line at 12:30 p.m., hoping to get good seats up front.

"She has real great music, a great voice and a great personality," said Maki, 67. "For me, my total concert experience is not just listening to music. I could do that at home. I want to be able to see, hear and experience the total package and really enjoy the total experience."

Alejandra Vera, 58, of Oxnard stood in line wearing a Patti LaBelle T-shirt with her boyfriend Rocky Garza, 69, of Oxnard.

Vera said she had been listening to LaBelle since age 16 because "her voice is incredible." Garza wanted to hear "On My Own" because he has a special connection to that song.

"That one jumps out," he said. "It's about that time, high school, the good old days."

Ventura County Fair details

The fairgrounds, at 10 W. Harbor Blvd. in Ventura, opens at 1 p.m. on Friday and noon on Saturday and Sunday. It closes at 11 p.m. The fair runs through Aug. 13.

On Friday: Youth Day, visitors age 12 and under admitted free.

Friday’s attractions: Flying Royals trapeze show (throughout the day), 805 Station Stage; Hypnotist Tina Marie, 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., Pepsi Seabreeze State; Collective Soul rock band, 7:30 p.m., grandstand.

Admission: $15 for age 13 to 64; $10, age 6 to 12; $10, age 65 to 99 and free for anyone 5 and younger or 100 and older.

Parking at the fairgrounds site: $20. People can also park and use free shuttle service from several different Ventura sites.

More information: venturacountyfair.org.

Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Patti LaBelle shines in Ventura County Fair performance