Author name: Jaclyn Duske

Country Thunder Wisconsin Twin Lakes, Wisconsin | 2305 Richmond Road | Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, 53181 | Friday July 18-21, 2024 Bailey Zimmerman with Chris Chiarcos and Brendan Orchard, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2024 The sun was shining all weekend long as fans filled up the fairgrounds anxiously awaiting 4 days of country music. Randy Houser and Lainey Wilson headlined the first two days. Fans entered the grounds excited for day three of live music, with artists including Emily Ann Roberts, Josh Ross, The Bellamy Brothers, Jake Worthington, Bailey Zimmerman, and Nickelback. Emily Ann Roberts, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2024 The first artist to kick off day 3 of Country Thunder was Emily Ann Roberts. Emily Ann Roberts started her career on Season 9 of The Voice as a member of Team Blake, where she ended the competition as the runner-up. She signed a record deal with Starstruck Records in 2019 and released her first studio album titled Can’t Hide Country in 2023. Roberts sang many of her songs from her album including “He Set Her Off,” “Chickens,” “Working on Love,” and “The Building.” She spent time on stage interacting with fans from all around the large stage and entertaining the early afternoon crowd. After her set, she had a signing and meet and greet by her merchandise tent. Emily Ann spent time interacting with each fan that attended this personal event. Josh Ross, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2024 Josh Ross was the second artist to take the stage for the day. Ross is a Canadian country singer from Ontario. He had dreams of playing in the Canadian Football League, until an injury derailed his plan, which is when he chose to pursue music as a career. Ross has won the Rising Star Award at the Country Music Association of Ontario and the Breakthrough Artist or Group of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Association in 2023. A crowd started to form in the pit during Ross’s set while he performed songs including “Trouble” and “Single Again.” His stage presence was strong and had the audience engaged through the entire set. The Bellamy Brothers, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2024 Fans then welcomed The Bellamy Brothers to the stage as their set was next in the lineup. The Bellamy Brothers, consisting of David Milton Bellamy and Homer Howard Bellamy, are a country pop duo that had musical success in the 1970’s and 1980’s. They brought together a group of fans, old and new, together by singing “Let Your Love Flow” and “Old Hippie,” along with many other hits. Jake Worthington, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2024 Jake Worthington brought a more traditional country music sound to the stage. Many songs were performed off of his debut self-titled album, including “Single At The Same Time” and “State You Left Me In.” Whether the audience knew the music or not, they were dancing along to Worthington all night. Bailey Zimmerman, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2024 The crowd filled in fast as the lights dimmed for Bailey Zimmerman. With an electric energy, Zimmerman ran onto the stage getting the crowd charged for his first song of the night, “Religiously.” His vocals were the star of the show the whole set, as was his attention to detail with each fan he encountered. Zimmerman’s lyrics tell a story that captures the attention of the audience with each word. From moving up one timeslot in the set, Zimmerman drew in a very large crowd of fans. With his performances, a family is created between Zimmerman and his band along with the crowd, creating a once in a lifetime experience. “Change,” “Where it Ends,” “Fall in Love,” and “Rock in a Hard Place” along with many other songs off his EP and debut album. Zimmerman first appeared at Country Thunder two years prior at an earlier set time and has worked his way to being one of the five main headliners of the event. While 2020 was a hard year for the world, it was the start of Zimmerman’s career. He began posting his music to social media as a means to impress girls, but quickly gained attention from music labels with his unique and soulful voice. Nickelback, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2024 Finally, it was time for Nickelback to close out the night of live music. With the lights flashing and the crowd cheering, Nickelback finally entered the stage. The energy shifted in the crowd as Nickelback began playing their 15-song set. The band played a variety of hits, spanning from their greatest hits to their deepest cuts, including “Photograph,” “Worthy to Say,” and “Far Away.” The energy was electric through each song as the fans enjoyed the band and their stage effects. Nickelback blurred the lines between genres by not only performing at a country music festival, but by also bringing Bailey Zimmerman back to the stage for a rendition of “Rockstar.” Nickelback is a Canadian rock band that formed in 1995 with 10 studio albums and has won 70 awards with 143 nominations over their career. Nickelback kept the fans engaged and dancing alongside them all night long. The final day of Country Thunder arrived with fans are showing up for one last day of country music. While many were exhausted after a long weekend of music, there was a buzz as fans entered in for the last day. The lineup was made up of Meghan Patrick, Randall King, Jackson Dean, Elle King and Eric Church, leaving fans excited for the day ahead. Meghan Patrick, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2024 The first artist to kick off the last day was Meghan Patrick. She is a Canadian American country singer-songwriter who released her debut album in 2016. Since then, she has released 2 more albums, the most recent being Heart on My Glass in 2021. “Wild as Me” and “Girls Like Me” were just two of her singles that she performed throughout her set. Randall King, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2024 Randall King was the next artist to take the stage. With an “old soul”

HARDY | Lainey Wilson | Dylan Marlow Peoria, IL 61602 | Friday, December 1st, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. HARDY at the Peoria Civic Center With the sun setting on the horizon, fans gathered at the Peoria Civic Center awaiting the start of HARDY’s sold-out performance. The crowds made their way to their seats in anticipation for a night of music from Dylan Marlowe, Lainey Wilson, and HARDY. Dylan Marlow at the Peoria Civic Center Dylan Marlowe opened the show with a performance to warm up the crowd for the night ahead. Marlowe sang some of his songs including “All About It” and “Why’d We Break Up Again.” The Georgia native is a new up-and-coming artist in the Nashville scene and a singer-songwriter duo. Marlowe received his first No. 1 hit as a songwriter with Jon Pardi’s “Last Night Lonely” and has previously toured with Cole Swindell earlier this year. Crowd Shot at the Peoria Civic Center Fans grew loud as it was time for Lainey Wilson to take the stage. She worked every aspect of the stage and kept the fans engaged during her whole set. Wilson’s stage presence was top tier and she spent time signing autographs and talking with fans in the crowd. “Never Say Never,” “Heart Like a Truck,” “Things a Man Oughta Know,” and “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” were just a few of the songs that were on her setlist. Wilson has had an incredible year so far, with 9 nominations at the 2023 CMA Awards and 6 nominations at the 2023 ACM Awards. So far this year, Wilson has won 9 awards between the 2 shows, including the coveted Entertainer of the Year. With 2024 approaching quickly, Wilson has been nominated for 2 Grammy Awards, which is a great start for the year to come. Lainey Wilson at the Peoria Civic Center HARDY at the Peoria Civic Center The lights dimmed and the crowd erupted in cheers waiting for HARDY to take the stage. HARDY came onto the stage with high impact and energetically maneuvered well. The fans were engaged the whole time and sang along to each song he performed. The stage effects were different than what would normally be seen at a country concert, with flashing lights, smoke, and fire. With HARDY’s rock influences throughout his music, the whole ambiance of the show fit well. Many of his hits were sung throughout the night including “One Beer,” “Give Heaven Some Hell,” “Truck Bed”, and “Wait in the Truck,” where Lainey Wilson was brought back to the stage to perform the song she and HARDY recorded as a duo. HARDY is a country music singer-songwriter who has written songs for Blake Shelton, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, and Morgan Wallen. Throughout his career, HARDY has had 12 nominations for his own song and songs he has co-written. He won the 2022 ACM Songwriter of the Year award, which was his first ACM Award. HARDY was nominated for many awards at the 2023 ACA Awards, he took home three, including Artist-Songwriter of the Year. In addition, HARDY took home 2 CMA Awards with Lainey Wilson including Musical Event of the Year and Video of the Year. Lainey Wilson at the Peoria Civic Center With the different genres of country music within this performance, the crowd, which consisted of fans of all ages, stayed engaged and on their feet the whole night, starting their weekends on a very high note. HARDY and Rhett Smith at the Peoria Civic Center For additional information on these artists and events happening at the Peoria Civic Center, please check out:   Peoria Civic Center- https://www.peoriaciviccenter.com/ HARDY- https://hardyofficial.com/ Lainey Wilson- https://laineywilson.com/ Dylan Marlow- https://www.dylanmarloweofficial.com/ Additional Images: HARDY at the Peoria Civic Center Lainey Wilson at the Peoria Civic Center Dylan Marlow at the Peoria Civic Center Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske 

Girl Named Tom | Lana Scott Rialto Square Theatre | Joliet IL, 60432 | Thursday, July 27th, 2023 at 7:30pm Girl Named Tom at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 Fans entered in the Rialto from the heat outdoors bubbling with excitement to see Girl Named Tom and Lana Scott. Both artists met while competing on the same season of The Voice on NBC. Scott competed on season 21 of The Voice as a contestant on Team Blake, where she was eliminated in the semi-finals round, just one week before the finals. Girl Named Tom at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 Girl Named Tom were the winners of season 21 of The Voice, where they were on Team Kelly. They are the first trio to ever win The Voice. Girl Named Tom is a group consisting of siblings Bekah, Joshua, and Caleb Liechty. They are from the small town of Pettisville, Ohio where they started singing together in church. In 2019, all three siblings decided to form a band together. They gained their name from their youth where Joshua and Caleb started calling their sister Bekah “Tom” because they wanted to have another brother. Lana Scott at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 Lana Scott kicked off the night singing a cover of Keith Urban’s “Somebody Like You” and followed with some songs that she had written. Throughout her whole set, she was accompanied by her husband, who is her guitarist. Scott had the entire crowd participating with her as she sang, whether they knew the words or not. Her stage presence and energy were infectious, and she started off the night on a high note. Girl Named Tom at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 After a brief intermission, Girl Named Tom entered the spotlight. They sang a variety of songs, including “Carolina in My Mind” and “Out of the Blue.” Their harmonies with each other were spot on and their energy was infectious. They moved around the stage with ease and interacted with the crowd through their entire set. They all shared the main spotlight well, where no one artist performed more than the other. Their strong bond was easy to see from the crowd, which made their set even more enjoyable. When their show was over, fans carried that energy with them as they left the Rialto, reminiscing on an amazing night of music. Girl Named Tom at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 For additional information on these musicians and events at the Rialto Theatre, please visit:   Girl Named Tom- https://www.girlnamedtom.com/ Lana Scott- https://www.lanascottmusic.com/ Rialto Square Theatre- https://rialtosquare.com/ Additional Images: Lana Scott at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 Girl Named Tom at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske 

Country Thunder Wisconsin Twin Lakes, Wisconsin | 2305 Richmond Road | Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, 53181 | Friday July 20-23, 2023 Jason Aldean, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2023 With the sun shining bright and the fields filling up, fans were anticipating a great second day of Country Thunder Wisconsin. The day had an amazing line-up of artists, which included John Morgan, Halle Kearns, Hailey Whitters, Parmalee, Lainey Wilson, and Jon Pardi. Hailey Whitters drew in a small crowd of fans that were singing along to her songs. Whitters is an Iowa native singer-songwriter who has been making music since 2015. Her debut single to country radio, “Everything She Ain’t,” hit number 17 on the US Country Airplay charts in 2022. She recently took home New Female Artist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards. Bailey Zimmerman, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2023 Parmalee was next up in the lineup, where the crowd was on their feet dancing along. Parmalee has been making music since 2001 and has had 3 number one singles. In 2013, their first number 1 hit was “Carolina,” followed by “Just the Way” in 2021, which featured Blanco Brown, and “Take My Name” in 2022. Parmalee’s lead singer, Matt Thomas, worked the stage with ease and spent quite a bit of time interacting with the fans. The crowd erupted in cheers as Lainey Wilson took the stage. She moved with ease, worked the whole stage, and danced the entire set. She has an amazing stage presence and spends a lot of time signing autographs throughout her set. Her set included songs off her new album such as “Those Boots” and “Grease,” as well as some of her current hits,  “Wait in the Truck” with HARDY and “Heart Like a Truck.” Wilson is a singer-songwriter from Louisiana who has been making music since 2011. She received her first number one hit on the American country charts with “Things a Man Oughta Know.” Since 2021, Wilson has won countless awards including New Female Artist of the Year at the CMT Awards in 2021 and the CMA Awards in 2022. She recently won four awards at the Academy of Country Music Awards, which included Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Musical Event of the Year, and Visual Media of the Year. Parmalee, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2023 It was finally that time of the night for Jon Pardi to take the stage. Pardi sang many of his hits including “Tequila Little Time,” “Dirt on My Boots,” “Heartache Medication,” and “Head Over Boots.” He maneuvered his way around the stage well and spent a lot of time with the fans. Pardi has been making music since 2012 and won two awards in 2012, New Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards and New Male Vocalist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards. Since then, he has been nominated for a few awards for his albums and songs, including “Dirt on My Boots.” All the artists put on an amazing show and kept the crowd engaged, singing and dancing all afternoon and through evening. Hailey Whitters, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2023 While the weather forecast was showing the potential for some dicey weather on day 3, fans still lined up early for the day in preparation for the artists ahead. Frank Ray, Shane Profitt, Lonestar, Carly Pearce, and Jason Aldean made up the lineup for day 3 of Country Thunder Wisconsin. The first artist of the day was up-and-coming musician Frank Ray. Ray set the day off on a strong note keeping the crowd on their feet. He spent time telling stories about his music while also singing some of his songs including his song “Country’d Look Good on You,” which has hit number 17 on the US Country Airplay chart. Lainey Wilson, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2023 Shane Profitt made his way to the stage next and started his set with a bang. He has a great stage presence and makes sure to cover all aspects of the stage and its long catwalk. He spent a lot of time connecting with the audience in the pit. Profitt made sure to interact with the photographers at the show, including myself, which was a nice surprise. He sang many of his songs including his radio single “How It Outta Be,” which has hit number 16 on the US Country Airplay charts. Profitt recently started his career in 2021 where he ran into Chris Janson in a restaurant, which led him to be signed to a songwriting contract for his new album All In. He was then given the opportunity to open for Chris Janson on his Halfway to Crazy tour in 2021-2022 (review to the Halfway to Crazy tour: http://www.thecompmagazine.com/chris-janson-halfway-to-crazy-tour-at-the-rialto/ ) Jon Pardi, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2023 Lonestar was the next artist to kick off the evening. They put on a strong set where they sang many of their hits, including “Amazed,” “I’m Already There,” and “My Front Porch Looking In.” Lonestar has been a group since 1992, consisting of members Drew Womack (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Michael Britt (lead guitar, background vocals), Dean Sams (keyboards, acoustic guitar, background vocals), and Keech Rainwater (drums). The group has had 20 singles on the Hot country charts, where 9 reached number 1. Frank Ray, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2023 Carly Pearce kicked off her set in the rain to a packed crowd of fans. She performed the beginning of her set while under the covered stage where it was not as slippery and made her way down the catwalk as the show went on. She performed many of her hits including “What He Didn’t Do,” “Next Girl,” “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” and “Never Wanted to Be That Girl.” She connected with the audience many times throughout her set and talked with the fans all evening. Pearce started her music career in 2006 as a singer-songwriter from Taylor Mills, Kentucky. She has been nominated for countless awards since 2018 and has won

Josh Turner | Garrett Biggs | Hillbilly Rockstarz Romeoville Toyota Pavilion at Deer Crossing Park | Romeoville, IL, 60446 | Saturday, June 17th, 2023 at 8:30pm  Josh Turner at the Romeoville Toyota Pavilion at Deer Crossing Park, 2023  Josh Turner brought country music to the Romeoville Toyota Pavilion on Saturday, June 17th. Fans from all over came to see Josh, who was accompanied by Hillbilly Rockstarz and Garrett Biggs. Country Music at the Romeoville Toyota Pavilion at Deer Crossing Park, 2023 The crowd was cheering loudly when Turner took the stage. He opened his set with his hit “Hometown Girl” and “Firecracker,” which had fans singing and dancing along. He then sang a few more of his songs including “Country State of Mind,” “Would You Go with Me,” and “Time is Love.” He spent some time throughout his set promoting his merchandise because proceeds of the sales went towards various charities. Turner discussed some of the meanings behind his songs, which gave the audience some insight into the background of the songs. Josh Turner at the Romeoville Toyota Pavilion at Deer Crossing Park, 2023 Turner also sang some of his favorite covers that he has recorded, such as “I Pray My Way Out of Trouble” by The Osborne Brothers and “I Saw the Light” by Hank Williams. The audience was engaged the whole night and sang along to every song. Josh Turner and Guitarist at the Romeoville Toyota Pavilion at Deer Crossing Park, 2023 The show was concluded with Turner’s two big hits which are “Why Don’t We Just Dance” and “Your Man.” The audience was singing loud and dancing with their friends and partners, enjoying the music and their time together. Turner came out after he closed the show for an encore which included his song “Long Black Train,” which is celebrating its 20-year anniversary this year. This song was written by Turner and launched his career in country music. The crowd Romeoville was energetic and singing along all night to Turner’s music, thoroughly enjoying their evening under the stars. Josh Turner at the Romeoville Toyota Pavilion at Deer Crossing Park, 2023 For additional information on Josh Turner, Garrett Biggs, and Hillbilly Rockstarz, please check out:   Josh Turner- https://www.joshturner.com/ Garrett Biggs- https://biggsofficial.com/home Hillbilly Rockstarz- https://hillbillyrockstarz.com/ Romeoville Deer Crossing Park- https://www.romeoville.org/facilities/facility/details/Deer-Crossing-Park-7 Additional Images: Josh Turner and Band at the Romeoville Toyota Pavilion at Deer Crossing Park, 2023 Josh Turner at the Romeoville Toyota Pavilion at Deer Crossing Park, 2023 Photographs and writings by Jaclyn Duske 

Cody Johnson  | Randy Houser | Tyler Booth Vibrant Arena at the MARK | Moline, IL, 61265 | Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 7:30 pm Cody Johnson at Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 CoJo Nation trekked out to the Quad Cities to see Cody Johnson’s Cowboy Country music to the Vibrant Arena in Moline, IL on Thursday, June 15th. Cody Johnson packed the stadium of 9,200 seats with country music fans from all over. Johnson was accompanied by Tyler Booth and Randy Houser. Tyler Booth at Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline IL, 2023 Tyler Booth put on an amazing show and sang many of his songs, including “Real Real Country,” “Already Got One,” and “Palomino Princess.” Booth worked the stage very well and had the audience engaged from start to finish. It was then time for Randy Houser to take the stage. The crowd sang along as he sang many of his hits such as “How Country Feels,” “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight,” and “Note to Self.” He moved with ease across the stage and had the audience on their feet, especially when singing his big hit “Like a Cowboy,” where the whole crowd sang along. During his set, he reached out into the audience for a sign made by a fan which said, “Randy Damn Houser.” He connected with the audience through his whole set, which helped get the crowd excited for Johnson to take the stage. Randy Houser at Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 After Houser’s set, it was time for Cody Johnson to perform. Once his silhouette was outlined at the back of the stage, the crowd erupted in cheers. He opened his set with “Let’s Build a Fire” and “Y’all People,” which had the crowd singing along. The crowd continued to sing and dance around when he sang “Dance Her Home” and “Diamond in My Pocket.” He sang two covers that had the crowd singing alone, which was “Red Dirt Road” by Brooks and Dunn and “Long Haired Country Boy” by The Charlie Daniels Band. During Johnson’s performances of “On My Way to You” and “Human,” the crowd lit up the arena with their cell phone lights. Johnson gave a speech about chasing your dreams before he sang his song “Dear Rodeo,” which was written about a past dream he had of being a rodeo cowboy. Cody Johnson at Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 Towards the end of his set, Johnson took the time to recognize all of our veterans, firefighters, police officers, and border control. He proceeded to mention that politicians don’t buy our freedom, but these men and women do. The crowd cheered their appreciation to all the people in service. Johnson then went on to say that if you have a disagreement with someone about something, love them anyway because an American soldier before you gave their life so you can have your opinions. The two things that he said he will always stand by until the day he dies is country music and American patriotism. Johnson’s speech had the audience roaring in support of his words. Cody Johnson at Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 Johnson’s set was concluded with his song “Me and My Kind” and his No. 1 song “Til You Can’t,” which he won CMT Performance of the Year this past April. His cowboy country brought fans of all ages to his show and had them on their feet the entire night. Cody Johnson is bringing back cowboy country to the country music community, which is something that has been missing. I am excited to see where his career will lead him. Tyler Booth at Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 For additional information on Cody Johnson, Randy Houser, and Tyler Booth, please visit:   Cody Johnson- https://www.codyjohnsonmusic.com/home Randy Houser- https://www.randyhouser.com/ Tyler Booth- https://www.tylerboothmusic.com/ Vibrant Arena at the MARK- https://www.vibrantarena.com/ Additional Images: Randy Houser and Mike Khalil at Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 Cody Johnson at Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske

Wynonna Judd | Martina McBride | Little Big Town The Judds: The Final Tour | Vibrant Arena at The MARK | Moline IL, 61265 | February 10th, 2023 at 7:30 pm Wynonna Judd at the Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 The energy was electrifying as fans entered the Vibrant Arena, anticipating Martina McBride and Wynonna Judd. The crowd settled into their seats, awaiting McBride’s entrance to the stage. Throughout her 45-minute set, she sang many of her hits, such as “Independence Day,” “My Baby Loves Me,” and “This One’s for the Girls.” Martina McBride at the Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 After McBride’s set, the crowd waited patiently for Wynonna Judd to take the stage. The lights began to dim as Judd walked out to center stage. She opened the show with “Had a Dream,” which is an Elvis Presley cover. For her third song of her set, she welcomed to the stage Martina McBride and Little Big Town to sing along to her hit “Girls Night Out.” Throughout her set, she sang many hits from her solo career and her career with her mother, Naomi Judd, which includes “River of Time,” “I Saw the Light,” “No One Else on Earth,” and “Guardian Angel.” By her 16th song in her 21-song set, she brought back to the stage Little Big Town to sing along to a few more songs. Wynonna Judd at the Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 During her set, there were 2 short breaks to play tribute videos to Naomi Judd, showing both personal and professional photos and videos of her life and career. In April of 2022, Naomi passed the day before The Judds induction to the Country Music Hall of Fame. The Judds were set to go on their final tour, which was almost cancelled after Naomi’s passing. After discussing with some of her close friends, she decided to continue with the tour to honor her mother and invited along some of her friends to perform with her. The videos touched the audience and left many of them with tears in their eyes. Martina McBride at the Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 Wynonna Judd at the Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 To close out her set, Wynonna sang the song her and her mother would close every show with, which is “Love Can Build a Bridge.” She was accompanied by Martina McBride and Little Big Town, who all stayed off to the sides. They were brought to the stage to support her through a difficult song. When she reached the first chorus of the song, which is where her mother would come in and harmonize with her, a video appeared behind her. It was an overlay of her mother singing with her, and her audio was played along, so Wynonna could sing with her mother. By the second chorus, McBride and Little Big Town joined in and harmonized with her. As the song came to a close, a video of Wynonna and Naomi played, showing how much Naomi loved performing with her daughter. Martina McBride at the Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 After such a heartfelt performance, Wynonna left the stage and returned later to kick off her encore with “Mama He’s Crazy.” She then went into “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the God Old Days)” and concluded her encore with “Why Not Me,” where she brought back Martina McBride and Little Big Town to help close out her show. This concert was full of heartfelt emotion, and I am so thankful I was able to capture so many amazing moments. Wynonna Judd at the Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 For more information on Wynonna Judd and Martina McBride, please visit:   Wynonna Judd- https://www.wynonna.com/ The Judds- https://www.thejudds.com/ Martina McBride- http://www.martinamcbride.com/ Vibrant Arena at the MARK- https://www.vibrantarena.com/ Additional Images: Martina McBride at the Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 Wynonna Judd (via smartphone) at the Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 Wynonna Judd at the Vibrant Arena at the MARK, Moline, IL, 2023 Photographs and writings by Jaclyn Duske 

Scotty McCreery | Catie Offerman Rialto Square Theatre | Joliet, IL 60432 | January 27th, 2023 at 8 pm Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 Excitement was buzzing in the air as fans lined up outside of the Rialto Square Theatre waiting to enter for Scotty McCreery’s show. The sold-out crowd began to settle as opener Catie Offerman took the stage to kick off the night of music. Offerman won over the crowd with her Texas charm and quick wit as she sang some of her original songs such as “Get a Dog, “Don’t Do It in Texas,” “Taking Chances,” and “Til I see You Again.” She is seen to be a female George Strait, with her vulnerability and her lighthearted nature. Catie Offerman at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 After a brief intermission, the lights dimmed, revealing a silhouette of McCreery and his guitar. He opened his set with his 2018 fan favorite “In Between.” The audience roared with applause as he sang some of his hits including “See You Tonight,” “It Matters to Her,” “You Time,” and “The Trouble with Girls.” Throughout his set he sang many covers, ranging from Brooks and Dunn, George Strait, and John Michael Montgomery. At his fifth song of his set, McCreery shared a heartfelt story about his wife Gabi. He claimed the best day if his life was his first day of kindergarten in 1998, where he first met Gabi. He claimed he never believed in love at first sight until kindergarten. Throughout his set he shared other stories about him and Gabi, including the day that led them to say, “I Do.” McCreery wrote a song titled “This is It,” in which he shared it with her when he proposed and was later played at their wedding. His performance of the song moved the audience to tears, seeing the greater meaning of the song. Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 Catie Offerman at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 He spent some time reminiscing on his youth, where he went to his first concert, which was George Strait, to whom he has been compared to. Ever since seeing George Strait, his dream began to fill his own venue where people would come see him perform, which is exactly what happened that night. He claimed that his favorite song of his just might be the one inspired by Strait, titled “Damn Strait.” His set was a total of 15 songs with an encore, which ended in his big hit “Five More Minutes.” Just as things were starting to wrap up, McCreery asked the audience if they were done, which they replied with a roar. He continued to perform covers such as Randy Travis’ “Forever and Ever, Amen” and Alan Jackson’s “Chattahoochee.” McCreery captivated the audience from start to finish with his stories and heartfelt songs, rather than a concert with a lot of extra flares. This was a great concert to be able to cover and I am thankful for my opportunity to photograph it. Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 For additional information on Scotty McCreery, Catie Offerman, and live music at the Rialto Square Theatre, please visit:   Scotty McCreery- https://www.scottymccreery.com/ Catie Offerman- https://www.catieofferman.com/ Rialto Square Theatre- https://rialtosquare.com/ Additional Images:  Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, Joliet, IL, 2023 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske 

Cody Johnson | Randy Houser | Randall King NOW Arena | Hoffman Estates, IL 60192 | November 11th, 2022 Cody Johnson at the NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL, 2022 Cody Johnson brought his Cowboy Country music to the NOW arena in Hoffman Estates, IL on Friday, November 11th. With a sold-out show of over 10,000 fans, the arena was packed from start to finish. Johnson was accompanied by both Randall King and Randy Houser, which helped bring out the true country music sound. Randall King at the NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL, 2022 Randall King sang many of his songs including “You in a Honkey Tonk” and “Hey Cowgirl.” He had fans on their feet singing along before it was time for Randy Houser to take the stage. Houser’s performance did not disappoint at all. The crowd sang along as he performed many of his hits such as “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” and “How Country Feels.” This proved his earlier statement in his performance where he said that real country music is still alive and well. Houser moved across the stage with passion and energy, which kept the audience engaged. It was later revealed in Johnson’s set that Houser was suffering with two broken ribs, which had the crowd shocked. Randy Houser at the NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL, 2022 Once Cody Johnson took the stage, the crowd erupted in applause. The CoJo Nation had shown up in full force singing along to the opening words of “Honkey Tonk Hardwood Floors” and “Ride With Me.” He had the crowd dancing along with him as he sang “Dance Her Home” and “Me and My Kind.” The crowd was on their feet from the start of his set all the way to the end, singing every song with him. A crowd favorite was “Long Haired Country Boy,” which was originally recorded by The Charlie Daniels Band. The crowd was full of cell phone lights while he performed “Nothin’ on You” and “With You I Am.” Johnson captured the audience’s attention when he sang “Dear Rodeo,” which he wrote about his time in the rodeo. Cody Johnson at the NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL, 2022 Cody Johnson at the NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL, 2022 Halfway through his set he took the time to honor all veterans, police officers, firefighters, and nurses in the audience, stating that we would not be here without them. He proceeded his discussion with how many people have told him that he should not be honoring police officers after the incidents in 2020, to which he responded that without these men and women, we would not have the ability to have our freedom and our own opinions. He continued by stating that his beliefs are quite different than most of the audience, but without the men and women who fight for our freedom, we wouldn’t be able to have these opinions. This was a very powerful point in the show that made many people stop and really think. Johnson concluded his 90-minute performance by singing his recent release “Human” and his No. 1 song “Til You Can’t,” which recently won CMA Music Video of the Year and Single of the Year. His traditional country sound brought fans of all ages to his show. This show is what country music has been missing for a long time and will be a difficult act to beat. Cody Johnson Band at the NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL, 2022 For additional information on Cody Johnson, Randy Houser, Randall King, and events at the NOW Arena, please visit:   Cody Johnson- https://www.codyjohnsonmusic.com/ Randy Houser- https://www.randyhouser.com/ Randall King- https://www.randallkingmusic.com/ NOW Arena- https://www.nowarena.com/ Additional Images: Randy Houser at the NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL, 2022 Cody Johnson at the NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL, 2022 Randall King at the NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL, 2022 Cody Johnson with Band at the NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL, 2022 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske