I was very fortunate to get an invite to the Carrie Underwood Fan Club party this past Tuesday in Nashville.
I arrived in Nashville Monday. Checked into my hotel next to the Grand Ole Opry Complex. The complex is very impressive. There is a huge indoor gardens area with restaurants and a bar that moves. Very surreal. Good thing I was sober. After a beer in the moving bar I took a shuttle downtown to hit some of the famous Nashville honky-tonks. I ended up in Tootsies. There was a great crowd with plenty of good live music. Lots of fun.
Early Tuesday morning I walked to the The Grand Ole Opry for the party. I arrived very early to find a lot of people already there looking to get a good seat inside. Carrie has a very large fan club with many dedicated fans. They range in age from 6 to 60. I met a couple young girls from Canada who were in front of me. There were fan members there from Brazil, Australia, Ireland. All over.
Once inside we just looked for a seat. It was open seating. I had a good seat right up front. When Carrie came out she went right into her set. The fan club voted on there favorites. It was about ten songs. Carrie said she was mad at everyone because they had picked the hardest songs to sing. She was kidding. But she needed a cheat sheet for some because she had never or rarely sang them live before. There were some Idol favorites (Alone, Home Sweet Home the number 1 pick and I think Stand By Me), Carnival Ride and Some Hearts favorites. Plus a couple covers and a Disney Movie theme (Ever Ever After). She had a standing O for How Art Thou I. Also Stand By your Man was great. Carrie said she would like to record this someday maybe. Can't remember the entire set list. After the set she answered questions and then played a game of complete the song lyrics. They randomly picked 12 people to compete to see who knew the words to her songs. Carrie would sing a portion and the members would have to compete for who could complete the words. It was fun for all. The winner won an all expense trip to a Chicago show with vip tickets and a meet and greet pass. It was a fun party. Carrie thanked everyone for voting her to win the Entertainer of the Year award. She said she cried when she heard she was nominated and was honored to be part of it.
After the party I got together with a bunch of fc members for a dinner at the Macaroni Grill. It was about 40 people. A good meal and fun. I knew a few people there from concerts.
Next was the Opry evening show. I had good seats. front and center. The show opened with Jimmy Dickens then Lorrie Morgan, Ricky Scaggs, Bill Anderson, Little Big Town, Trace Atkins and closing the show was fan favorite Carrie Underwood. The show was great.
I also had tickets for the second show. Even closer seating with the same group of fans from the first show. For the second show the performers ( for the most part) sang a different set. Which was great.
A great day and trip. Although short. Had to leave Wednesday. Had a Friday wedding. But, met some nice people.
Equipment: Canon 5D Mark II w/ 70-200 2.8 ls lens. No flash.
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