On June 05, 2009 my Radio Band and I had the honor of joining Brad Paisley on his American Saturday Night tour - kicking the tour off in my hometown - Charlotte, NC at the Verizon Wireless Center. We, along with Dierks Bentley, toured the USA and Canada and unlike the small venues I was used to performing in, these arenas and amphitheaters held between 15,000 and 30,000 people. Our job was to open the show each night and get the crowd as pumped up as possible. However, that can sometimes be like trying to start a car in 10 degrees below zero weather. I had to come up with a strategy, and fast!

We began our 25 min set each night with "Cowboys & Engines," a song I like to refer to as "the can opener." It's a high octane, up-tempo song with big loud guitars, a screaming fiddle and a double bass kick drum. Its purpose is to "alert" everyone that the show has begun. We'd then go into "Stay Gone", a song from my first CD. I chose it because it was my first song on country radio,  the most played song of 2003, generated a half million sales in records and that meant people were familiar with it. Everyone sang along each night!  It was great to see that people still remember that song!

We then went into "Kerosene Kid," a rocking, up-tempo song with a ton of fuel (no pun intended). During the first half of this song I'd hold up handmade signs in front of the camera which then appeared on the big screen. They read "scream if you love beer," "if you love Dierks," or "if you're a country girl," etc. The last sign read "scream if you remotely know who the hell I am." The cheers drowned the music each time a sign was held up. I wanted to have a little fun and also get those who were still outside to think they were missing something big! Get on in here! It worked every show.

We'd then segue into "Trespassin'," another song from my first CD. This up-tempo locomotive kept the momentum moving forward. The Radio Band walked out to the edge of the right and left catwalks and jammed with the crowd. Towards the end of "Trespassin'," Jake walked out to the edge of the center catwalk and performed an unbelievable fiddle solo with the fiddle behind his head. He'd begin walking back toward center stage in perfect time. There he'd end "Trespassin" on a high note that sustained throughout the arena as the lights went down. Seconds later I would appear at the edge of the center catwalk with my acoustic guitar. The spotlight would be shinning down. This was a very pivotal moment of the show. Things could have easily taken a turn and to be honest, I was nervous most nights. All I had to do was get through "Sara Smile" and it was easy sailing from there on. (I'll never forget the night in Baltimore when John Oates walked out on stage and sang "Sara Smile" with me and the Radio Band. 15,000 people cheered. Cameras flashed. It was the highlight of the tour for me. You can watch some of this footage on youtube.com. After "Sara Smile," we'd coast into "Do You Believe Me Now," my first #1 record.  In fact. that one remained at the top of the charts for 3 weeks? Congrats to writers Dave Pahanish, Joe West and Tim Johnson.  What an incredible feeling.  The entire crowd sang along as I walked to each side of the stage and said my goodbyes. I could definitely feel the power of this song.  And then my portion of the show was done.  My nerves would began to settle down.  After my performance, most nights I'd towel off and run out to the sound board to watch Dierks and Brad.  Incredible.

On October 24, 2009 superstar Brad Paisley closed the 2009 American Saturday Night Tour in Uncasville CT at the Mohegan Sun Arena. That last night of the tour was really a bittersweet feeling for me. Touring with artists as talented as Brad and Dierks and all of the musicians in their great bands and getting to meet the huge teams of talented behind the scenes people who kept this show on the road was an amazing experience.

I'll never forget the day Jenny and Mike (my managers) called me and gave me the great news that Brad had invited me to go on tour with him. Every moment on that tour was a learning experience. I made some really great friends I know I can always call on. Brad's Dad was truly amazing. I miss that dude. Dierks is the coolest. The catering was off the hook! All I can say is "Thanks Brad for having me out there and if you need someone to crowd surf, just call me!"