PART II -- MORE ABOUT THE CONCERT
GETTING READY
It takes a really special occasion for me to even consider wearing anything pink, but this was the first big-time country concert with Kellie Pickler I would ever attend. So, I had planned on wearing a big pink pin, complete with pink ribbon, that I bought at Kellie Pickler Day in Albemarle. I was going to stick the pin over the No. 8 on my Dale Jr. hat. He'll be driving a different number soon anyway. But after spending at least an hour looking, I never found the pin, so I ditched the hat idea.
But I did have my new T-shirt from Kellie's official Web site and some posters -- nothing fancy, just magic markers. About 5:30 I decided just to head on over. I had bought one ticket through the fan club for Shannon and one for me. After picking up the tickets, I was about to call her when I realized I had forgotten to punch her number into my cell phone. I knew Shannon was on her way though, because I had seen a message from her on Kellie Fans earlier.
So I walked around, figuring I would run into her. Several people asked me where I had bought my shirt, including one little girl who was wearing a "Naughty Lil Minx" T-shirt and the same kind of pink button I wasn't able to find that morning.
I saw Shannon up at the ticket booth, and Shellie and her parents showed up shortly after. Everyone was really friendly, and it was cool meeting people I'd only talked to online.
Shellie's dad decided to trade up to some better seats, and said he'd meet up with us later.
A BRIEF GLIMPSE OF KELLIE
We headed on over to a radio booth where we heard that Kellie might make an appearance. We couldn't really get into the tent -- it was jam packed -- but stood near it. Sure enough, Kellie did show up, with some security guards whisking her through the tent and into a golf car. They disappeared quickly behind a fence, but Shannon got to say hello and Shellie was able to give her a gift. The main thing I noticed about Kellie was that she was thinner than during the AI tour, her tan was really radiant, and she reacted really genuinely when someone she knew said hello.
SINGING
By the concession stands, the Paisley fan club people were doing some trivia contests and karaoke. Shannon and Shellie performed "I Wonder."
Here's the video:
We also met Dixie from here on KellieFans and her family.
When Shellie's dad met up with us again, we decided to head on to the seats. Shannon and I were down in the fan club area.
MEETING SUMMER MILLER
We met Summer Miller, who I think is Kellie's closest friend, on the way in. She was there with her husband and stepdaughter, and stopped to talk to Shannon about some fan mail for Kellie.
I had seen Summer (on American Idol she greeted Kellie after the audition, she was at the homecoming and she's in the "I Wonder" video), but she was much thinner than I remember and was wearing huge wraparound sunglasses, so I almost didn't recognize her. She seemed really nice.
Later on in the show, you could see Kellie handing Summer a video camera she took on stage with her.
WHERE ARE OUR SEATS!
Heading on down, Shannon and I were pleasantly surprised to find out how close our row was, but ... we couldn't find our seats! Turned out they had numbered the folding chairs wrong and left out ours and a few others. The security guys got it all straightened out for us, though.
Right before the Brad Paisley set, the security guys moved some people up next to the stage. I think they were filming a promo spot or maybe part of a video, so they wanted more people at the edge of the stage. It opened up some more room in our area, and we got to move even closer to the stage. We also were able to get chairs for Shellie and her mom down near us.
AFTER THE SHOW
We left with just a few songs left in the Brad Paisley set to get in Kellie's autograph line.
As I was walking out, several people high-fived me. I don't know if it was because of my Kellie shirt or they were just really drunk and really happy.
We met another Kellie Fan there, Jen. Allie also came up with her family, and we took some photos with them.
When I got up to meet Kellie, I didn't say much. I kind of froze up, I guess. But it was late and they were rushing us through. I said hello and gave her the photo to sign. She handed it back to me, and all I could think to say was "Welcome home." She gave me a nice big smile and said "thank you."
After that, Shannon said she was going to get a Taylor autograph, and I figured I might as well get one, too. Shellie was in line at the merchandise booth, and got a Taylor Swift pic for me. Taylor's line was better managed. Turns out they were selling her pics in the line, and also letting people pose with the CMT award for photos.
Shannon was a hoot while we waited in line. We talked with everyone near us, including two high school boys that had huge crushes on Taylor.
We took as many photos as we could when we got up there, but they weren't letting people pose with Taylor.
Taylor seemed really sweet and genuine, and like I said before, I think everyone that went through the line was able to feel they made a connection.