Womack Woos Americana Crowd in Nashville

Lee Ann Womack performs during the 2015 Americana Music Fest. Photo: Eric Parker

Lee Ann Womack whisked to the stage of Nashville’s 3rd and Lindsley on Friday night (Sept. 18) as part of the Americana Music Festival.

Sandwiched between Los Angeles cowboy Sam Outlaw and Michigan honky tonker Whitey Morgan, Womack drew a standing-room-only crowd for a set of signature tunes. The Sugar Hill Records star has been promoting her Americana-leaning album The Way I’m Livin’ since its release last year, including stops overseas.

Her slimmed touring band of four delivered her “Never Again, Again,” “Ashes By Now,” and “Does My Ring Burn Your Finger” with Womack even picking up a guitar of her own at times. With the absence of a steel guitar, triple fiddles were a welcomed flair during her cover of George Jones’ “You’re Still On My Mind,” and then for her own “I May Hate Myself In The Morning.”

“How country do you like it? Or should I say, ‘How country can you take it?’” Womack provoked the lively crowd, noticing a woman tearing up in the front. “She’s crying! Well, my job is done…Aren’t I a sick person? I love to make people cry. I love crying, too.”

With the ability to record the art she finds compelling, Womack proves she is in her element. She briefly mentioned she always envied the Buddy Miller[s] of the Americana world, where she hoped to fit in one day. For her, that day is now, with the new material she performed including “Chances Are,” “Send It On Down,” and her latest album’s title track “The Way I’m Livin’.”

After a rendition of her 2008 MCA Nashville track, “The Bees,” Womack left the stage as dignified as she arrived. The audience got a taste for more traditional material with Jim Lauderdale, who was also on the night’s bill.