The Carrie Underwood concert featured cowboy boots, costume changes and screams from excited fans.
The weeks leading up to the show were plagued with a plethora of emotions ranging from to indifference to anger – there is even a Facebook group titled, “I’m pretty sure I’ll wipe my butt with my Carrie Underwood ticket.” Discussions on the group’s message board expressed member’s confusion as to why $400,000 was spent to book the American Idol alum, along with $130,000 for the use of the stage, and why Underwood was chosen to perform in the first place. However, none of this was present when the crowd filed into the Mini-Dome Friday night.
“I’m really excited,” said senior Aimee Morton. “I can’t believe they got a big act like her. She is one of my favorites.”
Promptly at 8 p.m. John Singleton started the show off. Singleton played a short six-song set with several anecdotes about how Underwood would be on soon.
Between acts the crowd passed the time dancing to the YMCA and doing the wave until their eyes saw the five-minute countdown displayed on the screen behind the stage.
After the clock displayed zero, Underwood ran on stage to perform her first song of the night, “Flat on the Floor,” in the first of three outfits that night. She then sang several of her other hits such as “Wasted” and “Jesus Take the Wheel.”
She put on a lively performance for the estimated crowd of 8,000. There were lighting effects and the appearance of lightning on the screens.
Underwood was very personable with the crowd. “We’ve never done an all-college date before,” Underwood said. “I’m a little scared.”
She reminisced about her days in school. “I remember my days in college a few years ago,” Underwood said.
She also shared her lessons learned recently at ETSU. “There is a sushi place where you don’t eat the sushi and they charge you 15 cents if you put anything other than lemonade in your Chick-fil-A cup,” said Underwood.
She finished off her set with “So Small,” a medley of Guns and Roses Songs, “November Rain” and “Paradise City,” but the swell of momentum met its breaking point when she performed the last song of the night, “Before He Cheats.”
The crowd’s sing-along competed with Underwood’s vocals as two of the screens showcased crowd members mouthing the lyrics.
As people rushed through the confetti launched out during the end of the show, senior Sarah Campbell recounted her concert experience. “She was amazing,” Campbell said. “She sounded great.”
“It was completely insane,” said, fellow concertgoer, Andy Smith. “She was such a diva. I had such a great time.

Author