Native Texan George Strait opened the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium in style during a 1 hour, 45 minute set in front of a sold out audience Saturday night. He played through a large number of his hits, but he showed a little more of a personality during this historic event. Strait said he was honored to play the inaugural event at the stadium and said it was one of the highlights of his career.
He began chanting ‘Jerry, Open The Roof’, so fans could the retractable roof open for the first time, claiming only one person – Cowboys owner Jerry Jones – had the power to open it. Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton opened the show along with a fellow Texan, Lee Ann Womack – who took Julianne Hough’s spot on the bill because the former Dancing With the Stars turned country artist got strep throat. The backdrop might have been a $1 Billion Stadium with all of the fixings anyone could want, but this evening was by and large about simple, straight forward country music. Specifically, Strait and his multi-talented Ace in the Hole Band.
“Give It Away” –a recent Strait hit co-written by Jamey Johnson – was a highlight of the show, due to the emotional subject matter of a divorce “If It Wasn’t For Texas” highlighted some of the great things about the Lone Star State, and it wasn’t a surprise that he played it, given the mention of the Dallas Cowboys and their Super Bowl victories.
Strait’s voice and the fiddle playing stood out on a pair of songs that seem to be lyrical cousins of the rodeo life -- “I Can Still Make Cheyenne” and “Amarillo By Morning.” Strait played his first and latest hits, “Unwound” and “Living For The Night” towards the end of a show before setting up a three-song encore that included a cover of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” and the aptly named, “The Cowboy Rides Away.”
The cover of “Folsom Prison Blues” wasn’t terrible, but Strait certainly does a better job on “The Seashores of Old Mexico”, a Merle Haggard song he recorded and plays live, including Saturday’s show.
Reba McEntire’s played a mix of new and old material and told a few stories about how she’s so grateful to the fans for making her successful. The one-time barrel racer from rural Oklahoma is veering heavily towards a pop-rock sound with some twang in the mix. That’s evident on her new single, “Strange” as well as “I Want A Cowboy,” which newcomer Katrina Elam sang a few years ago. McEntire made reference to her early days in the music business before launching into a medley that highlighted those early hits; it included “Little Rock” and “Rumor Has It.”
Blake Shelton brought a humorous approach to his 35-minute set. Shelton liked what he saw in the new, magnificent stadium but wasn’t quite thrilled with the parking situation, which he said almost caused his bus to arrive late to the show. That made an easy transition to “Some Beach.” He also surprised the audience and briefly played the commercial jingle to FreeCreditReport.com.
Lee Ann Womack took a last second call to replace Julianne Hough in the lineup and highlights of her 30-minute set included a rousing cover of Bob Wills’ Western Swing stands, “San Antonio Rose,” “I Hope You Dance,” “A Little Past Little Rock,” and “Last Call.”
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