by Megan Smith, Courier Staff
Fort Campbell Soldiers traded in their combat boots for cowboy boots Monday night to attend Brad Paisley’s Bonfires and Amplifiers concert.
Despite the scorching heat, the division parade field was jammed packed with country music fans waiting in anticipation for country music stars Paisley, Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift.
Although the concert did not begin until 7:30 p.m., approximately 20,000 eager fans set up camp at 3 p.m. so they could get an up-close look at the country music sensations.
Paisley is currently on tour promoting his new album, “5th Gear,” which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, and he wanted to make a special stop to Fort Campbell to show his support for the military.
“His tour is sold out, and to make time to support us, is incredible,” said Catherine Walker, installation special events coordinator. “I am so impressed with the generosity that Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift have shown our Soldiers and their families.”
Paisley completely funded the quarter of a million dollar concert, so Soldiers and their families could enjoy a free “night of fun” together before their loved ones deploy to Iraq. “When I heard that Fort Campbell Soldiers would be deploying again and staying 15 months over there, I thought if anyone needs a night out it’s them,” Paisley said. “Having a
new son and family of my own and leaving right now, I can’t imagine what that is like. I wanted to do something, and this is a way of saying thank you. They deserve way more than a concert, but this is something I could do for them.”
Opening up for the Grammy-nominated singer was country music’s rising stars Swift and Pickler. Pickler has been hitting it big with her “Red High Heels”, and Swift’s single, “Tim McGraw,” recently struck platinum. “Our jobs are so easy compared to their jobs,” Swift said. “They are the reason we can do our jobs. It’s completely amazing to me that I have never had to live in a world where I was afraid. Because of the Army, because of the troops, I’m not afraid of anything, they give me that ability.”
Cheers of excitement from the audience unleashed when Paisley hit the stage at 9 p.m. to perform an 85-minute set to the thousands of fans. He got the crowd to their feet by singing his hit songs “Online,” “Ticks” and “Whiskey Lullaby.”
Then instead of lighters swaying, the audience members held up their cell phones to light the night when he sang “When I get Where I’m Going,” while images of Fort Campbell Soldiers who have lost their lives in combat, and others including John Ritter and Don Knotts were flashed on the backdrop behind Paisley.
Pasiley later lighten up the mood by interjecting his humor.
“I’m used to looking out and seeing a fat guy in a yellow shirt [speaking of his security] eating a corn dog and thinking, that guy is supposed to protect me,” said Paisley on stage to the thousands of laughing Soldiers. “I never felt as safe as I do right now with the 101st.”
That comment alone gave Paisley the loudest response of the night with thunderous applause and a boisterous “Hooah.”
Swift and Paisley also put in a few surprises during their set just for the Soldiers.
“I will play my new song for them,” Swift said. “I am going to throw in more patriotic songs,” added Paisley.
“It is just a different performance. I look at what they are going to have to do for the next 15 months and it is a different feeling to play for them then to walk out in front of a bunch of people who paid 30 bucks to come see me. These guys rarely get a night off and we are going to give it everything we have.”
Paisley said country music musicians have always been “exemplary” in showing support for the military. Growing up in Nashville with an Army dad, who is now a retired major, Paisley said it is all the more reason why he wanted to bring his tour to the troops.
“Country music certainly carries the weight when it comes to showing love and saying thank you to these people,” Paisley said. “I look out here and think, this is my crowd.”
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