ABC RadioIf you were keeping count Tuesday at Faith Hill and Tim McGraw’s first-ever concert together at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, the numbers go something like this: four duets, a half-dozen hits apiece, and two country music superstars who couldn’t be more thrilled to be back on stage together.
From the moment the husband and wife burst onto the platform from opposite sides singing “It’s Your Love,” there was only one word for their mood — exuberant. Looking every bit as glamorous as you’d hope, Faith wore a bedazzled black mini-dress, while Tim sported a coordinating V-neck and slacks fitted to show off his physique.
The two wasted no time confirming the buzz: They’ll hit the road in 2017 on a new incarnation of their Soul2Soul set. Tim then exited with a warning — “The blonde’s gonna kick it in the a**!”
The “Mississippi Girl” lived up to his promise, blazing through a string of hits that included “This Kiss,” “Cry,” “Stronger” and “Piece of My Heart,” plus an especially memorable version of Aretha Franklin’s “Dr. Feelgood.” Faith herself described it as “nasty.”
The Mrs. stuck around to lend harmony to Tim’s “Angry All the Time.” He thanked her with a playful spin and a kiss as she left and he launched into “Something Like That.”
“Thank y’all for being here. Whoo son, I’m nervous,” he confessed, before delivering “Shotgun Rider.” Tim whipped the capacity crowd at the Mother Church of Country Music into a revival-like furor, before lapsing into a thoughtful version of “Humble and Kind.” “Here Tonight” and “Real Good Man” rounded out his solo set.
A smoldering “Like We Never Loved at All” set up a fire-y Kenny Rogers/Sheena Easton-inspired take on Bob Seger’s “We’ve Got Tonight,” with a seated version of “I Need You” wrapping up the night.
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