Kane Brown challenges our notion of what country music should be — mixing a touch of twang from his Georgia-Tennessee roots with his love for R&B and EDM. His performance at Bridgestone Arena on April 12, alongside country singers Ashley Cooke and Mitchell Tenpenny, was no exception.
Ashley Cooke, a Belmont alumna, kicked off the night with themes of heartbreak and personal growth.
In anticipation of its release, Cooke sang her new single “the f word.” Akin to her witty behavior, the song leads listeners to believe it is about cursing, when it ends up being about a different “f word.” (Those in attendance learned which word, but the rest found out April 18.)
The crowd was also treated to a performance of the recent track “All I Forgot,” featuring Joe Jonas, hinting at the development of a third studio album in the works.
Reflecting upon her last two studio albums, Cooke shared the emotional toll of losing both of her grandmothers in the same year, followed by a breakup, before launching into a powerful performance of “it’s been a year.”
Yet, Cooke was able to transform her hurt into a moment of celebration, singing a song that landed number one on country music charts.
“Does anybody here in Nashville, in Bridgestone, have a really terrible ex? I do too! He cheated on me. He did a lot of bad things, but the one good thing he did was give my very first number one song on country radio,” Cooke said before singing “your place.”
Similar to Cooke, it was also Tenpenny’s first time playing at Bridgestone, an especially significant accomplishment as a Nashville native. To celebrate, he sang his new single to country radio, “Same Moon,” a song about his wife and country singer Meghan Patrick.
On the other side of romance, Tenpenny also sang about heartbreak, particularly in Nashville.
“When you break up with somebody, you don’t have to go say s— about each other. Nashville is a bigger city now, but it’s still a small town. When you break up, you leave each other alone. Go on to the next person. I wrote this song about that,” Tenpenny said.
A personal favorite was “Alcohol You” — the half rhyme of “alcohol” and “I will call” gave the perception of slurred words when drunk-calling an ex.
“And I know when we’re sober we’ll both say it’s over / But it ain’t really over / ‘Cause alcohol, alcohol, alcohol you later,” Tenpenny sang.
Before Brown took the stage, Tenpenny brought his brother to the stage for a duet cover of “California Love” by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre. It was a heartwarming moment that left the audience cheering louder, building anticipation for the main act.
Suddenly, lasers pointed at the audience, and fireworks went off. Brown ascended from the center of the stage and kicked off the country music party.
Brown’s fourth song of the night, “Fiddle in the Band,” from his recent album “The High Road,” best encapsulates his dimensionality and provided the perfect introduction to newer fans.
“I’m a little bit of bass, 808s, a little bit of clap your hands / I’m a little bit of six strings on a backbeat with a fiddle in the band,” Brown sang.
Dressed in a patterned black shirt and white sneakers, Brown displayed a laid-back yet stylish look. This paired well with R&B and pop-influenced songs such as “Be Like That” and “Body Talk.”
Even with more country-rooted songs like “Like I Like Country Music” and “Bury Me in Georgia,” Brown brought a sense of sophisticated-cool that is both appealing to non-country music listeners and a new form of expression for established country fans.
“I don’t care what color my suit is or what shoes y’all put on my feet / I don’t care how many show up or who reads my eulogy,” Brown sang.
His set also saw a few surprise guest appearances, with his childhood friend and country singer Lauren Alaina singing in “What If” and opening acts, Ashley Cooke and Mitchell Tenpenny, joining him on stage for a rendition of “Says I Can.” The screams of fans became noticeably louder when Brown’s wife, Katelyn Brown, dueted “Body Talk” and “Thank God.”
The couple sang the two songs from a distance and eventually met each other toward the end of “Thank God” for a sweet moment together, displaying their undeniable chemistry. It was an eye-opening experience, as it allowed listeners to put a face and name to all of Kane Brown’s love songs.
Whether it was love, family, struggles or dreams, Kane Brown radiated authenticity and made a large venue like Bridgestone a safe haven. Brown reminds us that it is normal to be “Haunted” and in need of “Rescue,” while also counting your blessings with “Thank God” and giving yourself space to dance to “Miles On It.” Life is an emotional rollercoaster, but Brown doesn’t hide from that. Instead, he makes the experience relatable and real.
