The Superstar Spectacular Show was scheduled for Thursday night, the first official night of the CMA Music Festival. It was held at the Ryman Auditorium, and starred Bill Anderson, Brad Paisley, Buddy Jewell, Jack Greene, Jeannie Seeley, Pam Tillis, Steve Wariner, Tracy Byrd and Vince Gill.
Being my first trip to Nashville, this was my first visit to the Ryman and I'm so glad I was able to see a show there. We had seats in the 7th row center, but I would have to say there isn't a bad seat in the place. The seats are pews as the Ryman used to be a church, and you really get a sense of a religious experience as you take everything in.
The show was broadcast on WSM Radio, so in between, you'd hear the announcer speaking to the radio audience in commercials and telling about upcoming events.
First up was Vince Gill, who I had seen perform earlier in the evening at the Coliseum show. The Superstar Spectacular was scheduled to run from 11:00 pm - 2:00 am. Vince started out with "Liza Jane."
As he did at the Coliseum show, he mentioned Ray Charles passing, and dedicated his next song to Ray. However, he sang a different song than he had earlier, in "If You Ever Have Forever In Mind."
Again, he brought up his group "The Notorious Cherry Bombs," which is his group with Tony Brown, Rodney Crowell, Richard Bennett, Michael Rhodes, Hank DeVito, Eddie Bayers Jr. and John Hobbs. He sang the song he had sung earlier, which is the group's first single, "It's Hard To Kiss The Lips At Night (That Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long)." Then, he quipped, "You should have seen Amy's reaction to the song."
His final song was the upbeat "Oklahoma Borderline."
Second on the bill was Bill Anderson, otherwise known as "Whisperin' Bill Anderson." He started his part of the show with "Wild Week-End." The next song, I believe was called "I Wonder if God Likes Country Music."
Bill told us that he got an email from someone saying that since he was playing the "Superstar Spectacular" he should sing his song called "Double-S" So, that was next, and it was so much fun to listen to. He told everyone to try to count the words beginning with "s" in the song.
His final song was his big hit, "Still." I was sorry he didn't have time to sing "Po-Folks," but was really glad to hear "Still," as it's a beautiful song.
Pam Tillis took the stage next with a red guitar. She started with "Shake the Sugar Tree," then told the story of when she was growing up, her dad used to let her take a nap in his guitar case when he played the Opry. She quipped, "Luckily he left the lid up." She talked about her recent album, Tillis Sings Tillis and said she'd like to sing something from it. That song was "Burning Memories."
Next up was a Webb Pierce cover, "Ain't Never Seen Nobody Like You."
From there Pam related growing up with so many legends. She said they were always stopping by; Dolly and Roger Miller.
Next song was "So Wrong" which she sang the heck out of. Awesome job. After introducing her band, she said she would be releasing a new album in September, and would like to close out the show with something from it. That song was called "Band in the Window."
Steve Wariner was next, and he started off his set with the popular "Linda." Another favorite followed, "The Weekend," then "Life's Highway." Steve thanked everyone that he had such success with the next song, and that was "Holes in the Floor of Heaven."
Brad Paisley followed Steve, and had Steve play with him on his first song, the Merle Haggard cover of "Workin' Man Blues."
Brad then joked, "Ok Steve, you can stop hogging the stage now." Then he started in on saying things with two s's in them, like Bill Anderson did, and everyone chuckled at the rememberance.
Brad's touching "Little Moments" was next, and then he sang his duet "Whiskey Lullaby" without a duet partner. That sounded a bit weird not having Alison Krauss, or any female, actually, sing the second verse. But it was still a great performance.
Brad ended his portion of the show with the hilarious "Celebrity."
Next up was Buddy Jewell who opened with his current single, "One Step At a Time."
Buddy said his record had recently gone gold thanks to the fans and songs like the next one, which was "Sweet Southern Comfort." He thanked everyone that requested the song, saying it was his second Top 5 song.
In closing, Buddy sang his first Top 5 song, the one written with daughter Lacey, "Help Pour Out The Rain (Lacey's Song)."
Jeannie Seeley was next to perform. I'm not familiar with her songs, so I am guessing at the first one, called "Brand New Day."