Reba McEntire performs at Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Caitlin McNaney.
Astonishingly, Country Music Hall of Fame member Reba McEntire played her first-ever show as a solo headliner at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Friday (Oct. 21).
Pictured (L-R): UMG Nashville’s Mike Dungan, Reba McEntire, UMG Nashville’s Cindy Mabe. Photo: Tony Matula
The Grammy-winner kept the Music City crowd entertained during her 90-minute show, as part of the “Reba: Live In Concert” tour, presented by Live Nation. Just before the show, McEntire was honored for more than 58 million albums sold worldwide. UMG Nashville President Cindy Mabe and Chairman/CEO Mike Dungan presented McEntire with a plaque to commemorate the accomplishment.
Before the country legend graced the stage, ’90s country hitmaker Terri Clark warmed things up. Clark had a ball performing her hits “Better Things To Do,” “Poor, Poor Pitiful Me” and “Girls Lie Too.” By the time she was done with us, the arena was pumped for McEntire.
When McEntire appeared onstage, she kicked things off with her first No. 1 hit, the 1982 “Can’t Even Get The Blues,” and followed it with her most recent, 2011’s “Turn On The Radio.”
“We’re tickled to pieces you came out to see us tonight,” McEntire said when greeting her guests. “In between those two songs has been a lot of life, love and a whole lot of hairspray. We want to take you on a little musical journey and see how many places we can go.”
The 30-song set that ensued included more of McEntire’s biggest hits, such as “Little Rock,” “Whoever’s In New England,” “The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia,” “Somebody,” “Is There Life Out There” and many more.
McEntire led the crowd in sing-along after sing-along, often smiling out to her adoring fans and waving. Her signature wit shined in moments where she spoke to the crowd.
Reba McEntire performs at Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Elisabeth Garcia
At other times, McEntire was stoic. In a section of her show she dedicated to sad, “wallering” songs, she played a medley of “You Lie,” “Tammy Wynette Kind Of Pain,” “Somebody Should Leave,” “What Am I Gonna Do About You” and “The Last One To Know.”
“I love singing sad songs,” she said, adding that she thought sad songs were “the glue of country music.”
A standout section of the show came when Clark re-emerged again to perform a Linda Ronstadt medley alongside McEntire. The two traded verses of “You’re No Good,” “When Will I Be Loved” and “Heat Wave”–and the crowd danced along without missing a beat.
The night also included virtual collaborations. McEntire introduced a digitally dancing Brooks & Dunn for “Oklahoma Swing” and a few virtual verses from Vince Gill on “The Heart Won’t Lie.”
Towards the end of the show, McEntire kept the energy high. Following a medley of some gospel songs, she blitzed us with “Is There Life Out There,” “Take it Back” and “Why Haven’t I Heard From You.”
She left her blockbuster hit “Fancy” for the encore. After disappearing into darkness, the crowd roared for her return to sing the captivating hit. In a chill-bump inducing performance, McEntire put the cherry on top of an evening of fun, good music and country music communion.
McEntire will play 11 more dates this year before picking the “Reba: Live In Concert” tour back up again in the spring. For dates, click here.
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