Last years Nashville Star winner took the stage first at this luncheon. Pardon the pun, but after "gobbling" down a delicious buffet style lunch of all your Thanksgiving dinner of favorites including the mashed potatoes, Chris Young took the stage to a very receptive crowd and performed songs off his self titled first CD just released this past October. Opening his set with "Beer or Gasoline," and then "Small Town Big Time," Chris said most don't agree with doing two back to back ballads but he couldn't help himself. I'm glad he did, and I thought both ballads sang back to back complemented each other. We heard the song Chris penned himself, "Drinkin' Me Lonely," which in my opinion, sealed his win on Nashville Star. He then went on to sing "Flowers." This song is about a man who is realizing the price he's paid for his drinking. It's a tear jerker, and although Chris is only 21 years old, his rich baritone voice delivers the song with the maturity of a 50 year old. His last song, "Your Gonna Love Me," is the new single and due out on March 26th. Chris was definitely one of my favorites this year and my only complaint was not hearing him perform for longer.
Again more videos during intermission which really is a great way to keep the audience busy while the next act sets up. Terri Clark was next with a six song set which began with a song called "In My Next Life." In her skin tight blue jeans and infamous cowboy hat and boots, Terri performed only a few of the songs that have kept us being fans through her now 13 year career. "I Wanna Do It All," "Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me" and "Better Things To Do," all delivered with that beautiful tom-boyish Canadian smile we all love. Her next song,"Dirty Girl" is the new single off her yet to be titled CD due to be released sometime this summer. This will be her first CD since being signed on with BMG. This song is sure to be a hit and is not quite what the title leads you to believe. Terri's last song was "Girls Lie Too." I didn't really appreciate this song until I saw the video and from then on I loved it. I must admit, watching Terri perform this song is a treat in itself. Of course the vocals are always perfect, but the facial expressions she has at certain times, lends a notion that Terri not only sings this song but perhaps has lived a few of these harmless little lies herself. It's a pleasure watching her and most of all, it's a pleasure listening.
Both artists left copies of their new singles as a gift to everyone who attended.
