The Country Music Hall of Fame singer delivered some of his biggest hits — and some touching moments — at Van Andel Arena on Saturday night. Check out the review, photo gallery and set list.
‘Gone Country’: It was an evening full of Alan Jackson’s familiar hits. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTO GALLERY, SET LIST
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Alan Jackson proved to Grand Rapids he can still captivate a crowd with his decades of hits.
The 60-year-old country music legend made a stop at Van Andel Arena on Saturday night as a part of his 2019 tour, starting off with his chart-topping 1994 single, “Gone Country,” which set the tone for the evening: boots tapping and beers raised.
Thousands of fans of all ages were in tune with Jackson, singing along to nearly every word. And the iconic star made sure to touch hands, throw T-shirts and toss picks to the crowd throughout the entire show.
Engaging Fans: Jackson on stage Saturday. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Jackson recalled the time his first album tanked on the charts, and he was worried about being able to support his family.
“Guess I’ll have to go back to work now, to pay for that baby,” he said. “But then the record label put out this next song, and I haven’t worked since.” The audience roared as he sang the opening lyrics to his hit single, “Here in the Real World.”
The evening’s most memorable moment came when Jackson paid homage to the events of 9/11 with “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning).” Fans held their cellphones up, swayed, cried and sang their hearts out. Raw emotions filled the arena when the singer turned to the big video screen, which showed a picture of first responders raising the flag on the day of the attacks.
After playing the beautiful and nostalgic “Remember When,” Jackson picked it up for the tail end of the show, playing his carefree anthems “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” “Chattahoochee” and “Where I Come From.” He closed out the encore with a cover of K.C. Douglas’ “Mercury Blues.”
William Michael Morgan, whose traditional country sound takes after Jackson, warmed up the crowd with energetic covers and his two Top 30 country radio songs “I Met a Girl” and “Missing.” Jackson also invited Jay Bragg, a regular performer at AJ’s Good Time Bar, his Nashville honky-tonk, to join the bill on this tour.
Even after taking a few years off, Jackson’s voice sounds as rich and true as when he started out.
And his Grand Rapids audience was able to escape in a time machine Saturday night to relive classic tunes that the Country Music Hall of Fame member still performs to perfection.
PHOTO GALLERY: Alan Jackson, William Michael Morgan, Jay Bragg at Van Andel Arena
Photos by Anthony Norkus
SET LIST: Alan Jackson at Van Andel Arena
1. Gone Country
2. I Don’t Even Know Your Name
3. Livin’ On Love
4. Good Time
5. The Blues Man
6. Summertime Blues
7. Who’s Cheatin Who
8. Here in the Real World
9. I’d Love You All Over Again
10. Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow
11. The Older I Get
12. Pop a Top
13. Little Bitty
14. Country Boy
15. Drive (For Daddy Gene)
16. Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)
17. Don’t Rock the Jukebox
18. Remember When
19. It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere
20. Chattahoochee
21. Where I Come From
ENCORE
22. Mercury Blues
Copyright 2019, Spins on Music LLC
