My Favorite Concert Moments of 2008
As long as everyone's doing year-end lists of albums and singles and artists, I thought I should put one together of all my favorite moments from this year's live shows. All the little times that made the concerts memorable and made me get back in touch with the insane country fan inside me. If you have a few you'd like to add, feel free. The more, the merrier, especially this time of year.
Lady Antebellum singing U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For."
Chuck Wicks' unusual but fabulous choice of cover songs, from Brad Paisley, Joe Diffie and Eddie Rabbitt.
Fans writing down their wishes during Martina McBride's "For These Times."
The guitar vs. fiddle duel between Joe Don Rooney and Rascal Flatts' fiddler John Jeansonne.
Dierks Bentley playing in a suburban backyard.
Pat Green telling his audience what it was like being the fat kid in school, the one swimming in a T-shirt.
Taylor Swift beating the hell out of a trash can during "Should've Said No."
Trace Adkins talking about how manly his dad is, saying that he makes John Wayne look gay.
Blake Shelton singing the freecreditreport.com jingle.
Faith Hill, her orchestra and her choir on "A Baby Changes Everything."
Darius Rucker with no backing band on "While I Still Got the Time."
Gary Allan taking swigs of Jack Daniels between songs.
The look on the fan's face when Keith Urban went into the Soldier Field crowd to sing "You Look Good in My Shirt" right next to her.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
Mandy says:
Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban are noticeably absent from that list, again. Her concert was one of the best of the year, hands down. I certainly prefer her angelic voice to Taylor’s beating trash can antics… any day.
Best Concert Moments:
1. Carrie and Little Big Town: doing a duet to “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac.
2. Keith Urban: But For the Grace of God… amazing performance.
3. Brad Paisely: live performance of “when I Get Where I am going” still moves me so much.
4. Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban: Duet to “Stop Dragging My Heart Around”. They rocked the arena!
5. Lady Antebellum singing Love Don’t Live Here ANymore.
6. George Strait singing Troubadour live.. amazing.
7. Alan Jackson singing Small Town Southern Man- amazing.
8. GEorge Strait covering Alan Jackson’s 911 song..WOW!
9. Carrie Underwood singing “How Great Thou Art” at the Opry Gospel special. She blew the roof off.
10. Martina McBride singing Broken Wing: still gives me shivers.
11. Keith Urban singing Stupid Boy live… WOW!!!!!!!!!!
12. Carrie Underwood jamming her electric guitar in concert and rocking out to Guns n Roses better then Axel Rose.. (this you need to see to believe, but it is true).
13. Darius rucker live doing “Don’t THink I don’t Think About it.” amazing.
14. Miranda Lambert’s acoustic cover of “More Like Her” is breathtaking.
15. Kenny chesney’s “Everybody Want to Go to Heaven” with the Wailers.. it worked! Loved it!
AshLorr says:
Top 3 That I Have Seen
1.I have to agree with you, Gary Allen drinkin’ Jack Daniels between songs.
2.Dierks Bentley junping around the stage like a mad man.lol
3.Kellie Pickler announcing to the whole arena that she was straight.haha
Best That I Wasn’t Personally There To See
1.Little Big Town, Jake Owen, and Sugarland singing Life in a Northern Town.
2. Lady Antebellum breaking into ACDC’s You Shook Me All NIght Long in the middle of Lookin’ For a Good Time.
3.Brad Paisley and Keith Urban singing Start A Band at the CMA’s
luvncountry says:
Kellie Pickler’s concert in Aug. is the only concert I’ve been to in probably 10 yrs. Other than my CD’s,I watch all my faves on large screen TV and call it good.
MLD says:
Your’re right Kim Carrie needs no defense.
Her talents speak for themselves.
1. Carrie rockin’ the house each night with Paradise City
2. The whole of the acoustic part of his set by Keith Urban
3. LBT singing Stay( not Sugarland’s song) - beautiful
4. Carrie breaking down during DFTRM in Atlanta and the
crowd singing for her
Kim says:
Tell that to her fans please, I am begging you!
Syd says:
Obviously this person hasn’t been to a Sugarland show. They are SO much fun to watch and listen to live-AMAZING!! I have been to 2 and they have been the best days of my life! Crowd surfing in giant bubbles, glowsticks and disco ball leading into everyday america, Them, Ashton Shepherd, and kellie pickler singing Love Shack- Jenn in blonde afro or pigtails wig, their base player in a beestack wig, Ashton in a blue wig and kellie in a pink one. There is so much more but the point is that they are extremely entertaining and people should take more notice.
Debra says:
On of my favorite moments was in the carrie underwood concert in arkansas when she was singing Just A Dream and she saw a poster that said Our Dream End It, the poster belong to the wife of a soldier who died in action, carrie broke down at the end of the song but she sang it beautifly.
lizisawesome says:
Oh my gosh Mandy, it’s not all about Carrie Underwood! And though I really love Keith Urban’s music, it’s not all about him either. There are many, many amazing concert moments in the world of music (yeah, it’s also not all about country, Alison). But on a positive note, I really did love Alison’s list in all honesty. Some really cool performences.
lori jean says:
Kathy Mattea - I just saw her yesterday. She sang “Where’ve you been” and started crying in the end. she then went on to tell us how her husband wrote the song about his mom and dad and his dad just passed away a few days ago. she went on to say how much she loves her job and how music is so healing. It was amazing!
Mark says:
Carrie Underwood and Little Big Town Coming to the Bancorpsouth center in Tupelo, MS. First because I’ve never been to one. Secondly, Carrie is a example of what a country music artist should be! I will with a doubt be back to a concert of hers!!! Third, Carrie sings from her heart and understands that to some the songs she sings is more then just a fairly tail; it’s real life.
Mark says:
Carrie Underwood is one of the greatest of all time!! And without a doubt I will come back to a concert! KEEP THE GREAT WORK UP CARRIE!! I am looking forward to the next CD and next single out on Radio.
Tammy says:
I saw The Road Hammers on Dec. 7th, they played a free gig for all the proceeds to go to St. Judes. What a great show, these guys are amazing, not only do they sound even better live than on their CD, but these are some awesome guys, they did autographs, pictures and hung out with us for awhile at the club and I was just blown away. I sure hope they get the recognition they justly deserve. Best show I’ve been to all year.
Vicki says:
Ok, me too. I would have loved to have seen Jodi Messina, Jamey Johnson, Ashton Shepherd recently here in Lexington. But they were at the Opera House. If you don’t get a good seat down, you are crunched in those old, old balcony seats where your knees are jammed against the seat in front of you. But again, times are tough. I saw one Concert this year and that was in April with Keith Urban/Carrie Underwood. I was standing almost the whole time, they were amazing.
I didn’t see this personally, but I watch this on youtube:
Carrie bringing up a little girl at each concert for them to sing All-American girl with her. PRICELESS!
Meg says:
And don’t forget Reba and Kelly! Tons of highlights from that tour! The harmonies in their acoustic set were awesome! “Up to the Mountain”, “Be Still”, “Greatest Man I Never Knew”… Their energy and banter on stage for 2 hours together was great fun! And just people-watching the incredible variety in their audience — ages, genders, styles — fun!
jewvill waston says:
wow [meg] that’s really cool you go girl i hope your not who i think you are is your name meganee
Roger says:
Look for these jewels on Youtube! haha
“Kellie Pickler - Red High Heels - Baghdad, Iraq”
“Kellie Pickler & Me in Iraq (Red High Heels)”
“Taylor Swift & Kellie Pickler singing Courtesy Of The Red, White, and Blue”
“Sugarland, Love Shack (w/Kellie & Ashton), Bossier, 11/16/08″
“Sugarland in Giant Bubbles & Preforming Loveshack Erie, PA”
“Sugarland: Love Shack - live”
Ann says:
I saw a few country stars this year and Toby Keith in Scranton was the best concert of all! I saw Blake Shelton, Gary Allen, Montgomergy Gentry, Keith Anderson as well, but Toby tops the list this year.
King says:
You people need to go see some other concerts.. these you are listing are horrible.
Jan says:
King if they are so horrible why did they have so many concerts and sell so many tickets? I don’t see one horrible performer listed. I’ve seen many of the artists listed and they are the best. I don’t waste money on horrible concerts, I only pay to see the best and I’ve seen some of these more than once. Kenny won the biggest award in country music for touring 3 years in a row and a few others listed were nominated. Post your list of some other concerts you think are better and want us to go see then we’ll compare.
Chronic CMT Viewer says:
Top Concert Moment for Me:
Seeing Faith Hill perform for PBS Soundstage taping in Chicago. The first half was Faith performing the songs on her Christmas album: Joy to the World. The second half of the concert was her rocking out to a live audience with all her biggest hits. Hopefully they’re broadcast the performance soon for y’all to see…then I’m sure you will agree!!
Melissa says:
Carrie Underwood introducing “The More Boys I Meet” and and having an ENTIRE section’s worth of guys take off their shirts for her…
How about that one? Haha.
diamond says:
the BEST THAT I HAVE SEEN #1 TAYLOR AT CMA AND AMAS #2 SUGARLAND W. LITTLE BIG TOWN AND #3 KEITH URBAN THE ALL ROCK!!!
Dana says:
The Miranda Lambert & Blake Shelton tour!! Over 2 hours of music with no breaks = amazing! And the chemistry between the two of them was obvious and so sweet. Hearing them sing “Home” live is AWESOME!
Hardygirl says:
Jason Aldean by far puts on one of the best performances I have ever seen and I have been to a lot of concerts, country and others. I have seen him twice this year and am seeing him again in January, he is amazing. Also LoCash Cowboys they absolutaly rock.
Chronic CMT Viewer says:
Sugarland, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean…all great shows
michael johnson says:
Did anybody see Reba and Kelly Clarkson open their show with Sweet Dreams are made of these??? That has got to be my favorite performance of the year. Great show opener!!!
Samantha says:
Carrie Underwood was my favorite singer I’ve seen live this year. I seen her three, and I will go see her some more. I even got to meet her=] She is so amazing when she is live, seriously go see her sometime.=] I loved it when she sang Paradise City, when she jammed to her electric guitar, when she sang “Go your own Way” with Little Big Town, and when she sang “Stop Dragging my Heat Around” with Keith Urban.
I also got to see George Strait this year. It was cool to him in concert. I grew up with his music.=]
I’ve seen Keith Urban. Wow he was amazing! He rocks on the Electric Guitar lol. Nicole Kidman was there to watch him also at the concert I was at.
I’ve see Little Big town twice this year. They are so fun to see in concert, and have perfect harmonies.
I’ve seen Big & Rich who were funny, and Gretchen Wilson who I have to say is better live than on her own CD’s lol
Lastly I’ve seen Tim McGraw for the second time, who of course was amazing.
But I know all of the artists were all amazing this year and I wish them all a great job. I would love to see all of them in concert, but I need to save a lot of money lol
diamond says:
OK GUYS JUST TOOK OFF SHIRTS FOR HER YEH RIGHT THEY WERNT PAID! I DO NOT THINK SO!!
Faye says:
I have not been to many concerts in my life until 2006, when I decided to go and see GARY ALLAN. Since then 16 all his, besides a few others — mostly TEXANS JACK INGRAM just last year. Love those TEXAS bands and singers.