Headlined by the Red Clay Strays, Billboard’s second annual Country Live kicked off June 4 in Nashville at Luke Combs’ spacious Category 10 with a full slate of acts, showcasing country’s expansive musical spectrum and filling the Lower Broadway venue to the brim.
The Red Clay Strays closed the evening with a robust set highlighting their range and their cadre of songs addressing the human condition and all its foibles before an enthusiastic crowd, who swayed and sang along to the Alabama band’s powerful country rock cocktail.
Country Live followed Billboard’s Country Power Players event the night before, where the Red Clay Strays were presented with the Groundbreaker Award by their buddy, comedian Matt Rife, who was also in attendance at their Country Live show Thursday night.
Before the Red Clay Strays hit the stage, fans were treated to a packed bill featuring Ty Myers, The Band Perry, Corey Kent, Lanie Gardner, Drew Baldridge, Chase Rice, Hunter Hayes, and The Grimm, all doing mini sets that highlighted hits and well-chosen covers. The day also included a set by Grammy-winning country star Carly Pearce, who made a surprise appearance that was only announced Thursday morning.
Country Live, presented by Under Armour, continues Friday (June 5) with Kaitlin Butts, Something Out West, Alana Springsteen, Stella Lefty, Braxton Keith, Ashley Cooke, Priscilla Block, Alexandra Kay, and headliner Tucker Wetmore, who received Billboard’s Rising Star award June 3. Attendance is free, but fans are encouraged to RSVP at live.billboard.com/country.
Below is a round-up of all the artists who appeared at night one of Billboard’s Country Live.
-
Ty Myers
18-year-old Ty Myers kicked off the Thursday edition of Billboard Country Live with a flurry of rock guitar riffs and his mesh of country, rock, and soul. An early high point in his set came when Myers and his band launched into his passionate version of Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie” (originally recorded by the Zutons). Myers, who released the project Heavy on the Soul earlier this year, continued starting the event on a high note with songs including “Leaving Carolina,” “Stay,” and “Drinkin’ Alone.”
-
The Band Perry
The Band Perry brought a dynamic performance to the Category 10 stage, with lead singer Kimberly Perry and her husband/bandmate Johnny Costello roaring through The Band Perry hits “Better Dig Two,” “You Lie,” “Chainsaw,” and newer material such as “Psychological.”
Perry called the event “our official return to CMA Fest,” and it was clear that Perry has retained her energetic, commanding performance style that has long been a hallmark of the group. Clad in a white dress and sky-high black boots, she led the crowd through her CMA single of the year-winning ballad “If I Die Young,” as the audience swayed and sang along to the song’s timeless and stinging-yet-hopeful message of a life cut short. Upping the tempo once again, they closed out the performance with The Band Perry’s 2013 song “DONE.”
-
Corey Kent
Corey Kent caught the afternoon crowd’s attention as he immediately kicked off his set with a full-throttle rendition of The Beatles’ “Come Together,” before keeping the energy elevated with songs including “Wild As Her.” “Contrary to popular belief, there are a few country artists who don’t live in Nashville — some of us live in Texas,” he told the Music City crowd gathered at Category 10, before ripping into a solo version of “Rocky Mountain Low,” his collaboration with Koe Wetzel. He continued with the groovy heartbreak track “Empty Words,” saying, “We thought this would be a deep cut. You guys are the reason they can’t slow this down and they have to send it to country radio.” He closed with his own “Something’s Gonna Kill Me,” before thanking his ace band and the packed crowd.
-
Carly Pearce
Jest hours before Country Live kicked off Thursday, the performance roster was further heightened with the addition of Grammy winner Carly Pearce, who brought her traditional country-tilted songs, as well as a surprise cover.
“I wrote this song for all of us who have ever been done wrong and wanted to set fire to someone’s stuff,” Pearce said, before launching into “Truck on Fire.” She then followed with a solo rendition of “If I Don’t Leave, I’m Gonna Stay,” which she recorded with Riley Green. Recalling her memories of attending early CMA Fests, Pearce then launched into a breezy rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” which made the most of her silky voice. Her set also included the fan favorite “What He Didn’t Do,” as well as “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” which Pearce co-wrote with Category 10 bar owner and fellow country artist Luke Combs. Throughout the performance, she paused to thank all the fans for their support, offering her gratitude for CMA Fest week, saying, “We get to make it all about you, the country music fans.”
-
Lanie Gardner
North Carolina native Lanie Gardner, who was first discovered after her cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” went viral, delivered a fiery set that included the menacing stomp of “Boots Down” and then the toe-tapping, sassy “Buzzkill,” about a girl who may look great but isn’t going to provide the thrills you think she is. The cheeky attitude continued with a fun, spirited cover of Miranda Lambert’s “Little Red Wagon.” Gardner, who is opening for Luke Bryan this summer, slowed things down a little with the mid-tempo “Faded Polaroids” and then sped it back up with “Daughter of a Gun,” before closing with the languid “Taking the Slow Ride.”
-
Hunter Hayes
bHunter Hayes didn’t show off all 30 instruments he can play but his guitar chops were in fine form during the Grammy-nominated artist’s rousing set opening with “Wait” then segued into a cover of Harry Styles’ “Golden,” before slowing it down with the sultry “Every Piece.” “I want to try something; let’s see how it goes,” Hayes said slightly skeptically before going into a heartfelt spot-on cover of Noah Kahan’s “The Great Divide.” Backed by a tight band, Hayes then jumped into “Evergreen” before ending with an exhilarating extended bluesy thumping “Elephant,” that really showed off what the band could do.
-
Drew Baldridge
Drew Baldridge announced his new album,Farm , Faith Family , coming Sept . 18 , live fromthe stage ,and debuted anew song dropping at midnight ,“Diesel & Dirt ,” during his quick-paced , enthusiastic set . He keptthe party goingwitha coverof Tim McGraw ’s ‘90s smash“Something Like That,” segueing into Brooks & Dunn ’s“Boot Scootin ’ Boogie .”“We can’t come out hereandnot play something forthecountry ladies , ”hesaidbefore bustinginto Shania Twain ’s“Man I Feel Like A Woman , ” which heswore he’dnever played livebefore . He returnedtohis own material ,current single ,defiant“Rebel .” Hethen toldalittleofhiscompelling backstoryofcomingto Nashvilleandnotbreakingthrough ,sohereturnedhomein2019andstarting overplayingthousands ofbackyardpartiesandotherevents,beforelaunchingintothe resilient“Tough People .” Hethen closedwith“She’s Somebody ’s Daughter ,”hisself-released hitthathetookintotheCountryAirplaytop10in2024,tellingthewomenintheaudiencetoremembertheirworth .
The Grimm
No act on stage had abetter backstory thanThe Grimm ,who more than60years after theyfirstformed ,have come back together foranew chapter . They started in60s,butas Billboard recounted recently,theVietnamWarandchurchmissions stoppedtheirmomentum . Butno longer .
Lead singer Greg Ericksen andhis robust vocals ranhiscollective throughatightsetofsturdy,riff-heavy rock tunes ,including“Ride Pony Ride,”“Crawlin’,”and“Hit Me Now,”beforeclosingwiththepropulsive“Black Finger Woman,”whichincludedcowbell ! Morecowbell !
Chase Rice
Chase Rice ,playingthepenultimate setofthenightbeforeapackedvenue ,openedwith2023’s“Walk ThatEasy,”beforedelvingbackto“ReadySetRoll,”atop5hit in2013hewroteafterhefirstcame toNashvillein2012. HedrewacheerwhenheaskediftherewereanyGarthBrooks’fans intheaudience(weassumethequestionwasrhetorical),beforegoingintoafaithfulversionBrooks’firsthit,“MuchTooYoung(ToFeelThisDamnOld).” Hethen thankedallwhohaveservedourcountry,includ inghisgrandparents ,withthechuggingpoignant“Circa1943.” He endedwithatwo-fer:his2020CountryAirplayNo.1,“Drinkin’Beer.Talkin’God.Amen”whichfeaturedFloridaGeorgiaLineandFLG’smassivehit,“Cruise,”co-writtenbyRice. HeliftedthecrowdperfectlywarmedupfortheRed Clay Strays.
The Red Clay Strays
The reigning CMAandACMAwards’groupoftheyearclosedthefirstnightontheeveofthereleaseoftheirnewalbum, Grateful ,openingwiththerockabilly-tinged ,swirling“I Don’t WannaKnow”togett he45-minutesetofftoakickingstart. Lead singer Brandon Coleman showedoffhis supplevoiceonnextnumber2024’syearning“Stone’sThrow,”beforeannouncingthiswasonlytheband’ssecondtimeplayingonNashville’sfamedLowerBroadway.Thecrowdleanedintotheheavinessof“PeopleHatin’,”asThebandstretchedoutshowingofftheircountry-rock,multi-guitar-prongedapproachwithguitaristsDrew Nix andZach Rishel , bassist Andrew Bishop , keyboardist Sevans Henderson and drummer John Hall.
PartofwhatmakesRCSsoappealingisits effortlessembraceofdifferentgenresandtheeasynimblenesswithwhichtheyglidebackandforth,evenaddinginagospel touchonthegorgeous“Moments,”“asongaboutgoingthroughterriblethingsinlifeandrealizinghowyouweremadebythatterriblemoment,”Coleman said. Theykeptthat theme goingwiththedark“Drowning.” Coleman thencandidly talkedaboutstruggleswithmentalhealthandencouragedanyoneintheaudiencesimilarlystrugglingtoreachoutforhelpbeforegoingintothehusky“DevilInMyEar.” Thethemeofdealingwithlife’strialscontinuedwith“Sunshine”andthefaith inspired“I’mStillFine.” Thebandconcludedwithafull-throatedversionof“WonderingWhy,”their2022songthatbrokedoutonTikTok,aswellastheaching“WannaBeLoved”andanexpansive,explosiveversionof“NoOneElseLikeMe.”
