Nashville Rising, wow! That’s pretty much all I can say about it! Nashville was blown up last night by Country music stars making a difference. I was out of the country when the flood happened, but I remember hearing a little bit about it. I had no clue how serious it actually was. The floodwaters were 5 ft deep inside of the Opryland Hotel and Grand Ole Opry… if you’ve been there you can imagine how hard it is to believe that that huge, and ‘grand’ place was completely flooded! Its not scheduled to re-open until November. The flooding in some parts of Nashville was as bad as it was in New Orleans just following Katrina.
Some details of the flood itself…
The Cumberland River was 13 feet above flood zone, 30 people died.
It doesn’t necessarily surprise me that I wasn’t hearing about it in Europe, but apparently people in the States weren’t hearing much about it either. The oil spill and the Times Square Bomb both occurred during the same weekend as the flood and no doubt took the media attention. I wonder why it is that our media shoved the Nashville story to the side, though. Last night they gave me an answer. Nashville can take care of its own! Perhaps the media didn’t care to report about a flood where looting and crime didn’t take precedence over neighbor helping neighbor. Maybe there wasn’t a story there, or a story worth mentioning?
I think Michael W Smith said it best when he said something about Nashville not getting media attention because Nashville doesn’t need the government’s help. They can carry their own.
Not to down play what happened in New Orleans or anything, that was a tragedy in its own, but I can definitely understand why countless country stars, football players and political officials showed up last night to support their town, because It truly is their town. Amy Grant told stories of working on neighbor’s homes and Julie Roberts told her story of being helped when she was trapped in the second floor of her home. Country music has a way of bringing out the good things in people, of representing what is important in life and making it known. That’s why I believe in the goodness of all of these people, they are truly super heroes.
With that being said, here my story from yesterday ☺
Angie and I got to Nashville around noon and we decided to drive around the arena, check out where to park, before going over to Pancake Pantry for lunch. We walked around the Belmont University area (really cool shops and beautiful area!) and then, of course, found T Swift’s condo building ☺ haha. We’re stalkers, of course! We went back downtown and heard Taylor and Miley soundchecking inside of the arena. We ended up standing at a gate behind the arena and watching the guests arrive! We saw the coach of the Tennessee Titans, ZZ Top, Lynard Skynard, Taylor’s band, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Martina McBride, and Luke Bryant go inside. After a really quick wardrobe change back at the car (bah, we couldn’t wear the same thing all day of course…haha) we made it inside the arena and to our seats just in time . The show started with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill saying hello and introducing the show.
The line-up continued…
Carrie Underwood started with her new single, ‘Undo It’ and then ‘Jesus Take the Wheel’, which turned into an EPIC rendition of ‘How Great thou Art’!! She basically started the show with a standing ovation, it was incredible.
Blake Shelton followed and he sang ‘Some Beach’ and ‘Hillbilly Bone’ during which Trace Adkins came out and sang with him!
After that was Lynard Skynard who sang ‘Whats Your Name’ and a ‘Free Bird’/’Sweet Home Alabama’ medley, which was much better than I expected.
Michael W. Smith sang ‘My Place in this World’ which brought back the memories of my last concert in Nashville seeing him sing that song with Kevin, Joe and Nick ☺ He also sang ‘Bridge Over troubled Waters’
Amy Grant followed with a song that I don’t know the name of but one of the lyrics was… “We pour out our miseries and God just hears a melody, better than a Hallelujah” She also sang a rendition of ‘Jesus Loves Me’ which was really amazing. She spoke about the importance of faith in the community and how Nashville is so strong because of it.
Montgomery Gentry sang ‘Something to be Proud Of’’ and ‘My Town’
Then…….BAH!!! Taylor Swift!!! She sang ‘You Belong with Me’ and ‘Love Story’ I freaked out basically because it was incredible! And then she skipped off stage…like literally skipped. Hahaha I had to laugh…she is the strangest and probably one of the weirdest ones out there, but I love it! She is like my bff even if she doesn’t know it!
Luke Bryant sang ‘Country Man’ and ‘Do I’ *he is v beautiful!
LeAnn Rhymes sang two songs that I have never heard before…they must be new. This was the only act that I was disappointed in. Her album, Blue, was my first CD ever and I was so pumped to see her again, but eh, she was just alright.
Martina McBride sang ‘Loves the Only House’ and ‘Anyways’
ZZ Top was so awesome!!! I had no idea that they were SO cool! Haha they are like old hipsters with Amish beards and the most epic studded vests ever. I knew one of their songs…’sharp dressed man’ SO True!!
Julie Roberts sang a song that I don’t know….her story was especially touching, however, because her home was actually destroyed by the flood.
Miranda Lambert sang ‘White Liar’ and ‘The House that built me’
Jason Aldean sang ‘Big Green Tractor’ and ‘Country’ He was really funny, he said something like ‘well I don’t really know about all of these sentimental songs. I can’t really follow up to Miranda’s song, but I do know what I know, and I can sing about animals and farm equipment’ haha, he was great.
Next was….Billy Ray Cyrus. I have to admit that I was kind of excited about seeing Billy Ray…but man, when he came out with a tattoo covering his entire arm, wearing sunglasses and a bandana…I thought he looked more strange than even trace cyrus! Which is Ironic because Angie and I had just been discussing how it seemed like trace was kind of an odd addition to the Cyrus Clan…apparently not…Billy Ray sang some song that I don’t know and didn’t really say much.
Miley followed her dad, but did a MUCH better job! She was wearing underwear…and something on top of it! Haha, of course, its Nashville! Surely she wouldn’t show up in a unitard. She came in and said something about being glad to have a reason to come home. First off- let me say, that I am impressed that she was even there. Yesterday (June 22) was the day that her new album, Cant Be Tamed, dropped and she spent release night in Nashville at a benefit concert. Even if maybe she didn’t actually want to be there (who knows?) I do think it says a lot about her roots that she was there, especially because its not like she is getting a ton of press for it. She would get far more press spending the night wearing only her underwear somewhere in LA doing some sort of scandalous performance like she did on Monday night at the House of Blues. That is kind of sad that that is what gets the press and not her helping her hometown. I genuinely like Miley, I think. Haha.
Anyways, she sang ‘The Climb’ and she was awesome!! She belted it out and sounded amazing!
Tobey Keith followed Miley and he sang ‘Once was’ and ‘I love this Bar’
After Tobey Keith came the biggest surprise of the night…Sandra Bullock!!! I was like, WAHHAT?! It was crazy! Everyone was freaking out! She came out with an acoustic guitar and said that her friend, Faith, had invited her out and she figured she would do some comedy…but then decided that since it was Nashville, she should perform like everyone else…with a guitar. She dragged a stool across the stage and picked the intro into Iron Man…it was Hilarious! She then introduced Faith Hill who came out and sang a couple of songs including ‘Piece of My Heart.’ The female singers definitely stole the night and Faith Hill was an EPIC ending to that. From Carrie to LeAnn to Martina McBride and Miley and then Faith Hill…their voices are amazing!
Tim McGraw finished the show by singing ‘Southern Born’ and ‘Live like you were dying’ A line from Southern Born… “Jesus is my Friend, America is my home” I love it! The entire night was the epitome of southern comfort and country music, a love for neighbors and a love for country. It was so amazing! If you ever get a chance to be a part of something like this in Nashville, do it! It’s so genuine, like nothing else! Thanks for reading…I know its long ☺
