Big Machine Label Group Hosts Epic 20th Anniversary Concert

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Pictured (L-R): Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus, BMLG’s Scott Borchetta, Carly Pearce, Rascal Flatts’ Gary LeVox and Joe Don Rooney. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Big Machine Label Group

Big Machine Label Group hosted a giant anniversary party in downtown Nashville Friday night (Aug. 29), “Big Machine 20,” featuring a star-studded lineup of artists from the label’s current roster and throughout BMLG’s 20-year history.

Founder, Chairman and CEO Scott Borchetta welcomed the crowd of over 100,000 fans packed into lower Broadway, saying, “I can’t believe that we’re turning 20 this year, but here we are. When we thought about how to celebrate this milestone, we couldn’t think of a better way than to throw the biggest party possible as a heartfelt thanks to you – the fans. Thank you for supporting our artists and our music.”

Riley Green. Photo: Catherine Powell/Getty Images for Big Machine Label Group

The anniversary concert celebration included performances from a host of label hitmakers including Riley Green, who treated the crowd to a number of his hits including the triple Platinum single “I Wish Grandpas Never Died” and double Platinum tracks “There Was This Girl” and “Worst Way.” Green also invited Carly Pearce to join him on his Platinum “Don’t Mind If I Do,” and Hannah McFarland made a surprise appearance for a performance of his song “Pick A Place.”

Sheryl Crow rocked the Big Machine 20 stage with “Prove You Wrong,” “Steve McQueen” and “Everyday is a Winding Road,” before Diamond hitmaker Brett Young treated the crowd to chart-toppers including the Diamond-certified “In Case You Didn’t Know,” the four-times Platinum “Mercy,” and double-Platinum singles “Sleep Without You” and “Here Tonight.”

Pearce performed hits including Platinum-certified “Next Girl,” Double Platinum “What He Didn’t Do” and triple-Platinum “I Hope You’re Happy Now.” Rascal Flatts frontman Gary LeVox and R&B/pop superstar Akon took Broadway to the beach with a surprise performance of their breezy summer party anthem “Hold The Umbrella.”

The Band Perry. Photo: Catherine Powell/Getty Images for Big Machine Label Group

The Band Perry celebrated their recent return to the BMLG/Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment family with performances of their mega-hits “If I Die Young,” “Chainsaw,” “Better Dig Two” and “Done.” Country artist and Staind frontman Aaron Lewis added to the star power of the night with his performances of  “It’s Been Awhile,” “Country Boy” and his Billboard No. 1 Hot Country Song debut and Gold track “Am I The Only One.”

Surprise act Rascal Flatts closed the night with a bevy of their hits including “Fast Cars And Freedom,” “I Like The Sound Of That,” and “Life Is A Highway.” Pearce returned to join the trio onstage for a heartfelt rendition of “My Wish,” which appears on their recent collaboration album Life Is A Highway: Refueled Duets.

The show also included performances from rising country/Americana four-piece The Jack Wharff Band, RaeLynn, Jack Ingram, Danielle Bradbery, Preston Cooper and Danielle Peck, who was the first-ever Big Machine artist to send a single to country radio, and kicked off the historic night with her songs “Findin’ a Good Man” and “I Don’t.”

The Big Machine 20 bash served as the kick-off for the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship weekend, with Indycar drivers joining Borchetta on stage and hyping up fans during the show. The evening also included the fifth annual Freedom Friday event, honoring members of the Military, Police, Fire, First Responders and Frontline Heroes.

Carly Pearce. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Big Machine Label Group

Photo: Nick Tavares for Big Machine Label Group

Lorie Hollabaugh
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