Last night, Garth Brooks performed 2 sold-out back-to-back shows at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena…and over the next week, he’s got 7 more gigs…Yes, all sold out. The 9 shows raised over $3.5 MILLION for The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee for flood relief.

Back-to-Back shows may, in theory, sound like a great way to raise money…However, I’m gonna go out on a limb and assume there was a meeting around 12:30 am with the Metro police and city officials to figure out a way for what happened last night to NOT happen on the other 2 doubled-show nights. Basically there was chaos in a massive crowd of nearly 30,000 people…half going in and half going out. Oh, and lets not forget the cars stuck in the middle of 5th avenue that were surrounded by people. Yes, it got a little scary…and I’m a little shocked that there wasn’t a stampede since people were fairly intoxicated and got quite pushy. My best advice to those of you catching future Garth Brooks shows over the next week…avoid the unbelievably expensive parking ($20 if you’re lucky), and park at the FREE parking at LP Field and enjoy a very toasty warm ride on the BEEP shuttle for $3.00 round trip. We did and it was GREAT!

Ok, onto the show… This was my first Garth Brooks show. Even though I wasn’t super stoked about it, I knew it was something I should see. All I have to say is WOW!!! The sparse stage gave a perfect view from nearly any seat in the house. We were in a 300 section nearly behind the stage and saw everything perfectly. Never having sat up in the “nose-bleeds,” I didn’t bring my camera since I figured I wouldn’t be able to see anyway…Now, I wish I had since I coulda gotten some GREAT shots. Oh well, I’m using Country Girl’s pictures so it’s all good.

Garth Brooks still has “it.” For a superstar who sold out 9 shows without blinking an eye, Garth is humble, thankful, and in awe of the love thrown his way. Except for maybe the screams of middle age women at a New Kids on the Block concert or the shrill pre-pubescent screeches of a Taylor Swift concert…NOTHING was as loud as the sing-a-long at last night’s Garth show. The arena put on a show for Garth as much as he put on a show for them. Every word was perfection, and Garth basked in the beauty of the sound he’s not heard in quite some time.

Entering by rising-up outta the stage, I’m not sure Garth stood still for the nearly 2 hours he performed. Only a few of his hits were left out of his massive set list. He performed “Rodeo,” “Two of Kind,” “We Shall Be Free,” “Unanswered Prayers” (insert chill-bumps here), “Beaches of Cheyenne,” “The Thunder Rolls,” “Long Neck Bottle,” “Callin Baton Rouge,” a very rowdy “Friends in Low Places,” and “That Summer.”

For a special treat, Garth invited Steve Wariner to come out and accompany him on a couple songs before inviting his wife, Trisha Yearwood, out to sing “In Another’s Eyes.” WOW!!! Chemistry and amazing. Trisha then sang “She’s In Love with the Boy.” I’ll be honest, I was hoping for “Walk Away Joe,” but oh well. They also sang a PHENOMENAL version of “More Than a Memory.” It was inspiring…

After the EXTREMELY loud crowd called the band and Garth back up to the stage for the encore, Garth ended the show with the high-energy “Ain’t Goin Down Til the Sun Comes Up.” …However, I’m sure Garth didn’t make it til sun-up…that show and the one after that had to have pooped the guy out. I predict that by show #9, Garth will actually need his belt to hold-up his pants.

Last night’s show was being filmed and broadcast overseas for the armed forces. We were all definitely proud to be Americans…and proud to be standing in the midst of the greatest entertainer to have ever lived.

You can see more pictures on our Flickr account here.

Got some country music gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale? Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com