CMT’s Next Women of Country Tour is a staple in my concert must attend shows every year and when I heard this lineup, I knew this year would be no different. The Midland Theatre was packed with Country music fans young and old on Friday night (2/10/17) all ready to see a Country music show with an all-girl bill, which is unfortunately, a rarity these days. During Martina McBride’s set she stopped and thanked the crowd for purchasing tickets to this tour that is all about supporting women in Country music as well.
The Show was kicked off by Country trio girl group Post Monroe, who are no strangers to North East Ohio and recently opened for Granger Smith at The Dusty Armadillo. The girls harmonies and melodic voices blended so well together and they got the crowd prepped for the powerhouse vocalists that were to come after them.
Following Post Monroe was none other than American Idol Season 10 Runner Up Lauren Alaina. Since Idol, Alaina has released her debut self titled album and has been touring the country till recent. After a 6 year hiatus from new music Lauren just released her new album Road Less Traveled and this tour was the perfect place for her to showcase her new music she had waited so long to release. Lauren brought her energetic personality to the stage and got the crowd up and dancing to songs from her new album, Road Less Traveled including the songs “Queen of Hearts” and “My Kind of People.” She also hit us with her emotional song “Three,” about her journey from Idol to now. Alaina ended her set with her sophomore album’s title track, the Top 15 hit single “Road Less Traveled” and got the crowd very excited for what was yet to come.
The powerhouse vocalist Martina McBride got the crowd going with “Loves the Only House” and continued through her vast catalog of songs from new to old throughout the entire night. While McBride stated she was a little under the weather it didn’t stop her one bit from belting out hit after hit like crowd favorite “Blessed” and “Anyway.” McBride slowed it down for a few songs and even played the piano to a Lady Antebellum hit “It Ain’t Pretty.” This tour was an extension of McBride’s Love Unleashed Tour and you could definitely feel the love throughout the room not only from the stage, but from the crowd. People were singing along and were even dancing during her song “This One’s For The Girl.” Martina ended the night with a bang with hits “Independence Day” and “Broken Wing” which brought the crowd to their feet.
If you have the opportunity to see CMT’s Next Women of Country Tour this year, I highly recommend it. It was one unforgettable evening of great music!
