By Carrie Severson
Phoenix streets buzzed last night thanks to Super Bowl XLIX excitement, and The US Airways Center was no exception. Country fans in town for the big game had the show of the year at the CBS Radio’s The Night Before concert. The stage was shared by ACM Award Nominees Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley and Jason Aldean who all entertained the crowd for over an hour. Since it was the night before the biggest game of the year, the Patriots and Seahawks cheerleaders were incorporated between sets, as well as surprise guests, Super Bowl predictions, and some healthy team taunting.
Florida Georgia Line brought out crowd favorites “Sun Daze,” “Round Here,” “Stay,” “This is How We Roll,” and “Dirt,” which Tyler Hubbard dedicated to the crowd. Hubbard and Brian Kelley introduced their next single, “Sippin on Fire,” before taking a few shots of Fireball themselves.
“We want our fans to get to know us better,” Hubbard said as the duo changed out of their boots and shirts into sneakers and Phoenix Suns gear. They danced around the stage to covers like Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass,” Bruno Mars’ “Treasure,” and the country mainstay “Friends in Low Places.”
Photo Gallery: Dierks, FGL, and Jason Aldean Perform at The Night Before
Kelley jumped down into the crowd to snap a few selfies, before the duo closed out their set to “Cruise.”
The Patriot cheerleaders took the floor to entertain the crowd, just ahead of surprise guest Paul Goldschmidt, first baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Before introducing hometown favorite, Dierks Bentley, Goldschmidt made a few comments about the Super Bowl.
“You can’t be an Arizona Cardinals fan and root for the Seahawks,” Goldschmidt said. Dierks Bentley came running onto the stage to his hit, “5-1-5-0.” The crowd welcomed Bentley back to Phoenix warmly, signing along to every song.
Home was the theme for Bentley’s set. During “Free and Easy,” Bentley dropped to his knees and said, “It’s good to be home.”
Photo Gallery: All the Backstage Antics Before The Night Before
He brought a fan up on stage for a shotgun beer challenge. Bentley won (of course) and moved into his hits, “Feel That Fire,” “Up on the Ridge,” and “Say You Do” before getting personal about what it felt like to be back in his hometown.
He reminisced about sitting up top, nearly able to touch the ceiling, in that very arena during his first country concert: Garth Brooks. He remembered watching Travis Tritt and Alan Jackson from the audience when he was a boy as well.
Bentley and crew covered Jackson’s, “Dallas,” which the audience knew just as well as his own hits.
It was what came next that really brought out Bentley’s emotions. He talked about his dad and their drive from Phoenix to Nashville in 1994 in a 1994 Chevy truck.
Relive More Highlights from The Night Before at our Live Blog
“I still drive that 1994 truck,” Bentley said. “Thanks to all you country fans I could have bought a new truck. I’ve even been offered free trucks. I turn them all down.”
“I Hold On,” came next and the audience sang right along with Bentley. “I wish my dad was here to see this, y’all,” he said. “But you know what? My mom is here! Mom, I love you. We made it.”
Bentley gave the audience, “What was I Thinking,” “Sideways,” “Home,” and closed out his set with “Drunk on a Plane.”
The Seahawks cheerleaders danced for the crowd as the stage was prepped for heavyweight Jason Aldean. Scott McCreery, another surprise guest, and Matt Hasselbeck, took the stage to welcome Aldean on stage.
By the time Aldean took the stage the audience was ready to rock, and Aldean delivered. He wasted no time jumping on stage and opened up with “Hicktown.”
Aldean mentioned it had been a few months since the band had been on the road and all he wanted to do during The Night Before was have fun.
Photo Gallery: Find Yourself With Photos from Inside The Stadium
He played hit after hit like, “Tattoos on this Town,” “Amarillo Sky,” “Big Green Tractor,” “My Kinda Party,” and “Take a Little Ride” before talking to the crowd.
Aldean mentioned his late night out in Scottsdale the night prior. He and Bentley hung out at Bentley’s bar, Whiskey Row. Aldean woke up a bit foggy and said, “There’s no party like a Super Bowl party.”
He went right into another string of hits while his fiancé, Brittany Kerr, danced on the side of the stage during his entire set.
Aldean gave the audience, “Just Getting Started,” “When She Says Baby,” “Night Train,” “Crazy Town,” “Burn Down” and “Dirt Road Anthem.”
He closed out the show with, “She’s Country” as the crowd two-stepped on the floor. The Night Before was the country concert of the year and it just happened to take place the night before the Super Bowl.