Carrie Underwood Sparkles & Stuns During Sold-Out Bridgestone Spectacle

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Carrie Underwood performs during sold-out “Denim & Rhinestones” show at Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Jeff Johnson

Carrie Underwood continues to shimmer in venues across the nation as she serenades crowds with a mix of new and notable songs on her “Demin & Rhinestones Tour.” Fellow country star Jimmie Allen has served as support on all dates the journey. On Wednesday evening, March 1, the two made their way back to Nashville to perform for a sold-out Bridgestone Arena.

Allen instantly pumped up the crowd as he kicked off the night. From his shiny ensembles to his audience interactions, he radiated confidence and elevated every spirit in the arena with songs “Best Shot,” “Down Home” and more.

Allen high-fived and snapped selfies with fans as he belted “Freedom Was A Highway.” At one point, he jumped off stage and immersed himself in the guests below as his set concluded. Once back on stage, he took off his first layer of clothing, revealing a loose black tank top, and introduced us to his exceptionally skilled band. Allen stripped the tank top, continuing his performance in a white undershirt, which he then removed and threw into the horde beneath. He then thanked everyone for coming and kissed the crowd goodbye, eliciting many cheers as the lights began to fade.

A DJ stepped on after Allen to keep the energy high as attendees awaited Underwood’s arrival.

A blend of blue, purple and pink lights began to beam throughout the venue as the sound of an electric guitar projected from the cool flash of colors on stage. Suddenly, something popped and silver and purple streamers began to swirl up above, covering the seats of Bridgestone as they floated down to reveal Underwood rising up from the stage.

Her bedazzed black outfit glistened with hints of multi-colored jewels as she ascended on a platform above the audience and the beats of “Good Girl” began to boom. She then descended onto the solid ground of the stage, maintaining the tone with “Church Bells,” a choir singing along on the screen behind her.

“Nashville! How’s everbody doing tonight?” Underwood asked the crowd. “This our hometown show. Are you guys going to help us blow the roof off this place or what?”

She received an abundance of screams in response. The beginning notes of “Undo It” from her 2009 album Play On blasted as the shouting voices vanished.

Her astonishing vocal range was beautifully exhibited throughout the entire concert, and she made the stage her own as she danced and jammed out with her band.

Underwood moved from the older tune to one her latest Denim & Rhinestone tracks “Hate My Heart,” which she wrote alongside David Garcia, Hillary Lindsey and Michael Hardy. She followed with another Play On throwback, “Cowboy Casanova,” before disappearing under the lights.

A silhouette wearing a dark cowboy hat emerged as Underwood rose from the stage once again, gilded in a gold romper and boots this time. The figure was quickly identified by attendees as “If I Didn’t Love You” began to play and Underwood’s stunning sound was soon accompanied by Jason Aldean as they moved toward the middle of the stage singing their chart-topping duet.

Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean perform during sold-out “Denim & Rhinestones” show at Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Jeff Johnson

She then brought us back to her early days of artistry with “Wasted” from her 2005 debut record Some Hearts. Underwood dissipated from the eyes of the audience again, and returned draped in a platinum fringe cape with a cowboy hat accessorizing her blonde curls and a glass of red wine in hand.

“I felt like I needed to go downstairs for a minute a get a little extra countryfied for y’all,” she explained. Underwood went on share a little about the next song she planned to sing.

“In country music, as you all are very well aware in Nashville, Tennessee, one thing that we get to do that I feel like a lot of other genres don’t really get to do that much is tell a story. The day we were writing this particular story in the form of a song, I had very specific characters in my head that I was thinking about. For me, in the movie I was playing in my head, the stars were Dolly and Jolene.”

She continued, noting that she didn’t understand how any women could steal a man away from Parton, and began to perform her twist on the classic Jolene tale, “She Don’t Know,” featured on Denim & Rhinestones.

There was never a dull moment as Underwood continued to wow the room, returning to her platform to for the title of her 2012 collection, “Blown Away,” in flowing blue gown, the screen depicting the winds of a tornado in background. The special effects only intensified with “Burn.” Each time Underwood sang the chorus, flames engulfed the front edge of stage and vague streams of smoke fizzled into the atmosphere. Portions of a pink disco ball swirled on screen as she dove into “Cry Pretty,” which earned many whistles and cheers with every high note hit.

Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley perform during sold-out “Denim & Rhinestones” show at Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Jeff Johnson

During “Ghost Story,” she traveled across the venue via a flowery swing, landing on a stage on the opposite side of the arena. Red beams shot straight up from the alternate structure as Underwood, dressed in a jumpsuit layered with a metallic mesh strummed a jet black guitar, thrilled the masses with “Two Black Cadillacs,” another Blown Away tune. The superstar shared that she likes playing a few songs atop her swinging destination because she loves being able to see every face in audience at one point or another during her shows. “I put myself in harms way so I can see everyone,” Underwood admitted. “But it is my favorite part of the show.”

She described the creative process behind the tour’s namesake and stated that during the pandemic, she decide she just wanted to have fun with the project. Underwood then recognized “Garden,” one Demin & Rhinestone song that she feels has a lot of heart pumping through it, and put that heart on full display as she sang.

A “Paisleywood” reunion ensued when Brad Paisley joined her for their hit “Remind Me.” The former CMA Awards co-hosts engaged in some musical banter, delighting guests with nostalgia. The nostalgia proceeded as she followed with the powerful “Jesus, Take The Wheel” before moving into her gospel track “How Great Thou Art.”

Carrie Underwood performs during sold-out “Denim & Rhinestones” show at Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Jeff Johnson

Underwood ditched the metallic mesh and climbed aboard a white saturn-like orb with a neon pink ring. She sailed back to the main stage, singing “Crazy Angels” as she twisted and turned in an array of acrobatic motions.

Changing into black cut-off shorts, a sparkly striped long sleeve top, and black and white cowboys boots, Underwood didn’t slow down, rocking out with her band as she introduced each member and showcased her own drum skills.

Joined by Allen, she then moved into her most recent title and tour track “Denim & Rhinestones.” Twinkling in their attire, the pair performed a little choreography, adding to the already electric environment, before Underwood entered an early career piece “Flat On the Floor.” She stuck with the throwback theme, following with “Last Name.”

Switching back into a flowing gown and raised on the platform, she made waves with “Something in the Water.” The mood shifted as donned a black leather jacket embedded with the Guns N’ Roses logo as well as the cut-offs, and treated everyone to a rendition of “Welcome to the Jungle.”

Carrie Underwood and Jimmie Allen perform during sold-out “Denim & Rhinestones” show at Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Jeff Johnson

Underwood closed out her incredible production with iconic single “Before He Cheats,” the crowd screaming the lyrics with their hands in air, the night ending on an immense high.

Liza Anderson
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