Nashville is known as a 10-year town, and Kane Brown has almost hit the bullseye. He released his debut album in December of 2016 on Sony Music Nashville. Before that, he made a name for himself by singing country cover songs on social media. He often traveled the two hours from his native Chattanooga area to Music City.
When Brown became a fixture on the country music scene, he was so shy he struggled to make eye contact. Soft-spoken and unfailingly polite, the singer was so overwhelmed with emotion at his first album release party that he couldn’t perform the deeply personal songs on his album.
He’s come a long way. Last weekend, Brown headlined back-to-back nights at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and performed a smattering of his 12 No. 1 hits. Dasha and Scotty McCreery opened the Friday night show for Brown, and he welcomed them back to the stage during his headlining set. Brown’s show was heavy on hit songs, singing partners, and pyrotechnics. For those who couldn’t make it out – here’s what you missed.
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Kane Brown and Lauren Alaina Sing “What Ifs.”
Brown and Alaina grew up in the same North Georgia area, went to school together, and have been friends since they sang in the choir. Brown’s first chart-topper, “What Ifs,” included Alaina. At the time, she had hit songs, and he didn’t. She was doing him a favor – and Friday night, they brought the song to life in Nashville in front of the Bridgestone crowd. Alaina is visibly pregnant with her first baby, and Brown good-naturedly joked with her about her rounding baby bump. He playfully rubbed his belly during the song, and she shook and rubbed her bump at him from the other side of the large U-shaped catwalk.
After the song, the friends met back on the main stage for a hug.
“I’m so excited for ya,” Brown told Alaina, “She’s having a baby. You all, we were in middle school together, and now we’re singing in Bridgestone Arena together.”
Brown thanked her for being there while Alaina waved at the crowd.
Kane Brown Duets, Flirts With Wife Katelyn Brown
“Nashville, do y’all have time to get a little sexy,” the singer asked as stage lights started blinking.
Wearing a sweater vest with no shirt, he swaggered across the stage, singing the opening to “Body Talk.”
“Is your body looking for somebody? Because I’m looking for somebody like you,” he sang. Then he introduced Katelyn.
“Y’all give it up for my queen, everybody,” he said as his wife walked out singing, dressed head-to-toe in bedazzled denim.
The pair danced together face-to-face while they suggestively sang to each other.
They followed it up with their hit, “Thank God.”
“What’s up, Nashville,” Katelyn asked the crowd.
At the song’s end, she encouraged the audience to sing along. The couple finished the song with a kiss.
“This is my favorite part of the show,” Brown said as he watched his wife leave the stage. “This is her runway, walk, walk, walk.”
Katelyn spun around and gave him a sassy look. Then Brown suggestively growled at her.
Kane Brown Addresses Mental Health During Concert
Brown’s set included a colossal staircase that led to nowhere. He climbed high on stairs, sat down, and told the audience that sometimes “y’all forget we’re people, too.”
“We feel down, too,” he said. Then Brown added that if his fans ever felt like their mental health was dipping dangerously low, they could reach out to him.
Brown’s song, “Haunted,” from his recent album The High Road, addresses his mental health struggle. He followed his short plea with the song.
Lyrics include: Cause I’m haunted by the voice in my head| I’m haunted by the taste of that lead| I wanted too many times to jump off of the edge| Thinkin’ I was better off dead.
Kane Brown with Scotty McCreery and Dasha
McCreery and Dasha, who opened the show for Brown, remerged for “Says I Can,” fitting since one of the song’s lines is: I called up some friends I ain’t seen in too long.
The song, about moving on from a broken relationship, goes straight back to Brown’s country roots. McCreery’s baritone rang strong and clear on the second verse. He captivated the audience in his middle set earlier that night, with fans illuminating the arena with their cell phone flashlights.
Dasha worked her side of the stage in a Nashville Predators jersey and black cowboy boots.
“This is Dasha’s last night with us,” Brown told the crowd.
“Love you, Kane,” she said.
“Y’all give it up for her one time,” Brown told the crowd.
Kane Brown Honors His Children
Before Brown sang “For My Daughter,” he told the audience that his father had been in jail most of Brown’s life. He grew up with his mother and his grandparents, and he knew if he was going to be a dad, he would be the best dad he could be. Brown and his wife, Katelyn, have three children – two daughters and an infant son.
Lyrics include: They say dads are supposed to shape you, and in a way I guess mine did| I knew what I wouldn’t do if I ever had a kid| They say history repeats itself| Well, I guess that’s up to me| Yeah, I grew up without a dad| I’m gonna be the best one I can be
Brown meant what he sang. By Monday, the singer and his family had headed to the beach. He posted a video of his daughter – the oldest playing in the ocean and the youngest building a sandcastle.
“Are you excited Daddy’s off for a little bit?” he asked. His daughter went back to her sandcastle. “She don’t care,” he said. “I’m glad I’m off. I’ve been waiting to get down here.”
(Photo by Manny Carabel/Getty Images)
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