Urban, Gill Give Their All 4 The Hall

Pictured (L-R): Kyle Young, Brett Eldredge, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Deanna Carter, Keith Urban, Vince Gill, Lee Ann Womack, Kacey Musgraves, David Nail and Gary Borman. Photo: Rick Diamond & Terry Wyatt, Getty/Wire Image

Keith Urban and Vince Gill welcomed a slew of Country music luminaries to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena for the fifth annual All 4 The Hall concert on Tuesday evening (May 6). The concert functioned with a dual purpose—to raise funds for the Country Music Hall of Fame, and to celebrate some of the artist’s favorite songs, both new and timeless classics.

As comfortable performing solo as accompanying other artists, Urban and Gill led a superb backing band which also included Buddy Miller and steel guitarist Paul Franklin.

Pictured (L-R): Keith Urban and Vince Gill. Photo: Rick Diamond & Terry Wyatt, Getty/Wire Image

This year’s All 4 The Hall featured one of the best lineups yet: Reba, Carrie Underwood, David Nail, Brett Eldredge, Deana Carter, soon-to-be Country Music Hall of Famer Ronnie Milsap, Brantley Gilbert, Kip Moore, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Darius Rucker, Kacey Musgraves, and Lee Ann Womack.

The show flowed in a Grand Ole Opry style-format, as each artist performed two songs. In keeping with this year’s songwriters theme, the artists shared stories behind the songs and how each song resonated with them personally.

Womack’s soothing soprano offered her 1998 hit “Little Past Little Rock” along with new tune “The Way I’m Living.” Eldredge brought the onstage enthusiasm and poise of a rising headliner.

“I was here the very first year [for All 4 The Hall], thinking how cool it would be to play this show,” said Eldredge, who performed two cuts from his debut album, his current single, “Beat of the Music” and album cut “Mean To Me.”

Reba McEntire. Photo: Rick Diamond & Terry Wyatt, Getty/Wire Image

Other highlights of the evening included big-voiced vocalists and Oklahoma natives Reba and Underwood. The multi-talented Reba earned the cheers of the crowd before ever singing a note. She offered the signature song “Survivor” (the theme to her long-running hit television show Reba), as well as “The Night The Lights Went Out in Georgia,” which actress Vicki Lawrence‘s then-husband Bobby Russell penned in 1971. Reba recalled the song’s difficult road to being recorded. After numerous artists turned it down, Russell held such confidence in the song that he declared, “My wife could have a No. 1 hit with this song.” Industry execs urged him to give it a try; he did, and the suspenseful Southern gothic song became Vicki Lawrence’s only No. 1 hit. Reba released her own cover version in 1992.

David Nail and Lee Ann Womack. Photo: Rick Diamond & Terry Wyatt, Getty/Wire Image

Dolly Parton’s musical influence was undeniable. Underwood offered a flawless cover of Parton’s version of “I Will Always Love You,” while Kacey Musgraves performed a charming take on “Here You Come Again.” “Normally I don’t want to meet people I love because I find they are normal,” Underwood said. “Dolly exceeded all my expectations.”

Underwood showcased her powerful rock-tinged voice on “Last Name,” while Musgraves successfully overcame some minor technical troubles to deliver her debut single “Merry Go ‘Round.”

Kacey Musgraves. Photo: Rick Diamond & Terry Wyatt, Getty/Wire Image

Gill recalled first hearing Deana Carter’s “Strawberry Wine” on the radio, and being enamored with the singer’s talent. “I heard her doing a live show at [now defunct] Tower Records on West End,” Gill said. “I had to drive over there and see who this woman was, and who had that voice.”

“It was the first song I ever had on the radio,” a exuberant and youthful Carter said in introducing the song to the audience. “I looked up and saw Vince and wondered if he just stopped in and needed cassette covers or something at the time. He waited to say something really kind and it meant so much to me.” Carter also offered “You and Tequila,” which was co-written with Matraca Berg, and recorded by Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter.

Womack made another appearance, providing harmony vocals on a cover of Glen Campbell‘s “Galveston” with David Nail. The song is featured on Nail’s I’m A Fire, which released March. A smart pairing.

An all-star rendition of Darius Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel.” Photo: Rick Diamond & Terry Wyatt, Getty/Wire Image

In previous solo concerts at Bridgestone, Urban has included surprise acoustic performances at the rear of the venue into his set, to the delight of fans in the “cheap seats.” All 4 The Hall seemed to borrow the idea; Urban performed an acoustic rendition of “Cop Car,” then shook hands with several surrounding concertgoers. “I write a lot of songs, but this one is one of the magic ones,” Urban said. The performance went a long way in bringing intimate moments to the thousands of fans packed into Bridgestone.

Later in the show, Brantley Gilbert also performed from a side stage in the rear of the venue, notably joined by Dann Huff for a performance of the unreleased song “Grown Ass Man.” The always sharp-witted Gill would later reference the song title, saying, “Well, I’m a large ass man.”

The multi-talented Gill’s glorious tenor was smooth and faultless during his solo “What You Give Away,” which he dedicated to Urban, thanking him for his generosity in making the evening possible. He highlighted Paul Franklin during a performance of Buck Owens’ “Together Again,” from the pair’s superb Bakersfield project.

Ronnie Milsap. Photo: Rick Diamond & Terry Wyatt, Getty/Wire Image

Calling Out Where The Bright Lights Are one of his favorite albums, Urban introduced Ronnie Milsap, who offered his signature hits “Smoky Mountain Rain” and “Stranger In My House.” Mary Chapin Carpenter and Kip Moore also offered top shelf sets.

Recent Grammy-winner Darius Rucker walked onstage to a standing ovation from the Music City crowd. After offering his first chart-topping Country hit, “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” he welcomed Underwood, Carter, Eldredge, Gilbert and Carpenter for a show-closing, crowd sing-a-long of “Wagon Wheel.”

Urban offered a surprising early statistic during the show, stating that the concert had raised over $600,000 for the CMH0F; official numbers have yet to be released.

Brett Eldredge and Carrie Underwood. Photo: Rick Diamond & Terry Wyatt, Getty/Wire Image