Lainey Wilson Wows The Crowd At The First Day Of Country Thunder Arizona

Lainey Wilson took the stage in front of a capacity crowd at the opening day of the Country Thunder Music Festival at Canyon Moon Ranch in Florence, Arizona, on Thursday. She wasted no time diving into her powerhouse performance showcasing why she was crowned Entertainer of the Year at the 2023 CMA Awards.

Appearing on stage against the silhouette backdrop of her name, Lainey proceeded to captivate the crowd drawing heavily from highlights of "Bell Bottom Country," the album that propelled her career as a festival headliner. COWGIRL magazine was present to capture images of the audience's gracious appreciation—Lainey signed autographs for young fans and accepted a Bell Bottom Country license plate from another.

Lainey did not disappoint, rolling out all her hits including her latest single, "Country's Cool Again." She also served up a few from 2021's "Sayin' What I'm Thinkin'" and a couple of crowd-pleasing covers, from 4 Non Blondes to Saturday night's headliner, Jelly Roll.

During the performance, Lainey announced that this show would be her last in the United States for the next month as she was departing for Ireland in the morning to kick off the first leg of her European tour.

Laney is reveling in one of the most amazing awards seasons with honors already this year including a Grammy Award for Best Country Album and the Peoples Choice Award for Female Country Artist of the Year. And again, on tap, Lainey is nominated for five 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards.

Flatland Cavalry

Opening for Lainey Wilson was Flatland Cavalry. This band has been together for the past 10 years and has become a fan favorite on the festival circuit for their heartfelt ballads and remarkable musicianship led by the Texas sextet's bandleader and chief lyricist, Cleto Cordero.

Cordero, with his curly hair and gentle manners, has a special connection with his audience, often sharing personal experiences and romantic feelings, which has earned him a dedicated following.

While they haven't reached headline status, they have cultivated a devoted and appreciative fan base. Cordero brings an emotional tone to the seasoned group of musicians, who have recently been nominated for the Academy of Country Music Award's Group of the Year.

Cordero also speaks on-stage fondly of his wife Kaitlin Butts and promised the audience some new music with the two in the very near future.

Halle Kearns

Another bright light on the first day of Country Thunder was the young singer/songwriter, Halle Kearns. She was the first to take the stage to a sparse audience but gave it her all.

With a voice that carries the weight of experiences well beyond her years, Halle has carved a unique niche in the country music industry by embracing vulnerability & authenticity. Kearns has only just scratched the surface of her career potential.

The performance reminded me of Lainey Wilson only two years ago when I first saw her perform at Stagecoach as one of the first acts of the day with a similarly small, but lively audience. The power of the females in country music is encouraging to say the least. It’s great to see these young women following in the footsteps of the now to be superstar, Lainey Wilson.