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ARLINGTON – George Strait doesn't need sparkling lights, huge video screens or billion-plus-dollar venues to show fans what an influential, elegantly traditional country superstar he is.
Fans high in the stadium took pictures of George Strait on one of the large video screens that gave the concertgoers top-notch views no matter where their seats were. But King George surely deserves all the bells and whistles. Saturday's inaugural Cowboys Stadium concert – an extravaganza that also featured Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton and Lee Ann Womack filling in for an ailing Julianne Hough – showcased Strait at the pinnacle of his musical game.
Backed by his flawless Ace in the Hole Band, the eternally youthful Texan opened his gig with 'Write This Down' and 'I Want to Dance With You' before launching into fiddle and steel guitar staple 'Ocean Front Property.'
Strait's approximately 100-minute platform stint is akin to wearing comfortable Wranglers and broken-in boots. You know what to expect, and it always feels good. He ably moseyed through the best of the old, such as 'Amarillo By Morning,' 'Unwound' and 'The Fireman,' and plenty of the new, including 'Give It Away,' 'Living For the Night' (his fresh single) and 'I Saw God Today.' The encore brought a fierce cover of Johnny Cash's 'Folsom Prison Blues.'
Strait and his opening acts sounded crisp, clear and incredibly amplified. The retractable roof, which was closed most of the night, is an ingenious idea from a sound standpoint: Nothing slips out of the building. The sound stayed inside for the crowd of 60,188 to enjoy. Also, those two 159-foot-wide video screens worked perfectly. You could see the expressions on the faces of each performer in glorious, glowing color.
The close-ups benefited Reba McEntire, who looks younger and more vivacious with each passing year.
And onstage, well, she's a first-class interpretive singer. Story songs are her forte, of course, as well as intense examinations of crumbling relationships. A couple of outstanding numbers were 'Rumor Has It,' with its heavy wordplay, and 'Fancy,' which she sang in a shimmering, fringed red dress.
In between, McEntire offered her all-encompassing brand of country. She played with bluegrass ('I'm Gonna Climb That Mountain'); gospel rave-up ('Love Revival'); '70s pop ('The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia'); and sassy front-porch country ('Strange,' 'Why Haven't I Heard From You'). She can be inspirational, as she was on 'I'm A Survivor' and 'Is There Life Out There.' And she can also be seductive, such as on 'The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter.' She is one of the few multimedia artists who can act a song without turning corny in the process.
For all those reasons and more, she has stayed viable for three decades in a business that increasingly cranks stars out only to watch them fade away in less than five years. Reba not only survives, she prospers.
Blake Shelton proved to be a prime example of the benefits that years of club touring can provide. He was relaxed, funny, in strong voice and in command of his repertoire, which has grown into an impressive set of songs. When he wanted to pour on the sex appeal, the crowd got 'Nobody But Me.' When he aimed for swampy cool, he delivered 'Ol' Red.' And when he decided to show off his vocal abilities, he sang 'Goodbye Time.' He sang his heart out, and you could see as well as hear his every committed note.
Now, for the humor: Shelton launched into 'Some Beach,' his hilarious country-venting hit. Comedian Shelton couldn't resist the stand-up opportunity. So, with the best poker face he could muster, he then sang the TV commercial jingle of Freecreditreport.com.
Before he left, Shelton turned serious with a nice rendition of his No. 1 single, 'Home.'
Speaking of that familiar, homey feeling, native Texan Lee Ann Womack, who at the last minute filled in for Hough, was in her element. In a short 35 minutes, she beautifully sang one traditional country song after the other, from her absorbing country single 'Solitary Thinkin' ' to the fiery heartland rocker 'Ashes By Now.' In between, the emotive vocalist was completely transcendent during 'Last Call' and her signature tune, 'I Hope You Dance.'
Staff writer Joy Tipping contributed to this review.
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