Keith Urban, Chris Stapleton and Vince Gill Steal the Show at Team UMG at The Ryman with Epic Guitar Jam
The three iconic singers brought down the house for a once-in-a-lifetime guitar siff-off in the Ryman for radio programmers.
For eight years, Universal Music Group Nashville has hosted Team UMG at The Ryman luncheon. One of the highlights of Country Radio Seminar each February, the event boasts performances from many of the artists on the UMG roster stripped down for one song at the famed Mother Church of Country Music. It’s an intimate concert on sacred ground and each artist is fully aware of the building’s history.
“I had a beer but it didn’t do the job. I still have the jitters up here,” Jon Pardi said on Thursday afternoon (Feb. 23), moments before performing his song “Heartache On the Dance Floor.”
The nearly two-hour show included memorable one-song performances by 14 of the label’s artists. While Luke Bryan kicked off the show promptly at noon with his latest single “Fast,” Keith Urban closed down the house with an epic five-minute guitar jam of his most recent No. 1 “Blue Ain’t Your Color” alongside Chris Stapleton and Vince Gill. Additional highlights included Lady Antebellum’s horn-fused “You Look Good,” Dierks Bentley’s ode to his dog Jake, “Can’t Be Replaced,” and Lauren Alaina’s powerful “Three” which garnered the singer a standing ovation.
“What an honor to open up our CRS party here,” Bryan said as he walked out center stage alone with his acoustic guitar in hand. “Thank you so much for all your prayers to me and my family the last couple of days. I’ve been checking my socials and see so many of you that are lifting my family up. I really appreciate it. It means the world to me.”
Bryan then went into “Fast,” a song he says holds even more meaning to him this week following the death of his young niece.
Darius Rucker followed suit and brought the laughter. “I’m gonna soak this in for a second because Luke Bryan just opened up for me,” he joked.
He then went on to perform his powerful new single “If I Told You,” written by Ross Copperman, Jon Nite and Shane McAnally. “This song means a lot to me. I think it’s the most real song I’ve ever been a part of. It’s me. It’s who I am,” he explained.
Bentley received the first standing ovation of the afternoon, even if he prompted it when he first took the stage. Admitting that he has never received a standing ovation at the Ryman, he said that the song he was about to play might help him acquire one. Turns out he was right.
“[This song] talks about my dog Jake that passed away last year. I might get the sympathy ovation,” he said. “This one means so much to me. This is one of my favorites off the record.”
The poignant song had Bentley’s voice echo strongly throughout the Ryman. Backed by a dobro and acoustic guitar player, “Can’t Be Replaced” left its mark as the packed audience stood after Bentley’s final lyric was sung.
Throughout the afternoon, many of the artists made a point to share their gratitude to country radio for their success and the ability to make music for a living. Kip Moore, Sam Hunt and Vince Gill were three artists that continually thanked radio for their support.
“I’m so grateful for what I get to do,” Moore said before performing “More Girls Like You,” the lead single off his forthcoming third studio album. “I’m one of the few people on this earth who gets to wake up and truly do what they love and that’s a special thing. You guys are a direct vessel of that and I’m so thankful for you guys.”
Hunt agreed. Prefacing an acoustic performance of “Body Like a Back Road” with his four band members acoustically, he told the audience at CRS how much he appreciates getting new music out to his fans.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m getting married in a couple months so between planning a wedding and keeping my fiancée smiling I’m trying to [release] new music for y’all,” he said.
Additional highlights throughout the luncheon included Vince Gill’s beautiful new ballad that he wrote as a birthday gift to his wife, Amy Grant, as well as Lauren Alaina’s powerful performance of “Three.” Accompanied by co-writer Seth Ennis on piano, her voice soared and reverberated throughout the Mother Church for an emotional performance that had the singer in tears and the audience on their feet at the close of the song.
The main event, though, was Urban’s closing performance. After a medley of songs in tribute to several artists we lost in 2016 including George Michael’s “Careless Whisper,” Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” the Eagles’ “Take It Easy,” David Bowie’s “Heroes,” Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried,” and Prince’s “Purple Rain,” the singer began to sing his most recent No. 1 single “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” Side stage Gill and Stapleton nodded along until Urban motioned for them to accompany him. First, Stapleton joined in on a guitar interlude and shortly after Gill sidestepped his way to the stage as the three guitar virtuosos traded riffs for an epic five-minute jam. It was a live experience that couldn’t be witnessed anywhere besides CRS 2017. A fitting close to two hours of chill-inducing solos and emotional performances, the luncheon once again proved why it’s one of the must-see events of the seminar.
