Country Royalty Takes the Throne in Valdosta: Big & Rich x Gretchen Wilson

“Country boys don’t rock and roll.” Yeah? Tell that to the fine people of Valdosta, Georgia, because Wild Adventures Theme Park was busting at the seams with country folk doing exactly that when Big & Rich took the stage Saturday night. Valdosta folks are no stranger to getting loud for a country music party. For what is now decades, Wild Adventures has played host to legends of country and southern rock. From Charley Daniels & Alabama to Lynyrd Skynyrd and .38 Special.

It’s no surprise that folks in Valdosta got rowdy once again when Big & Rich rolled into town with their Peace, Love & Happy Hour Tour on Saturday night. Their raw, no-nonsense approach to expressing the real feelings of everyday Americans who love to party and hold country and family above all else has earned the duo a massive following over the past 20 plus years.

I’ve seen Big & Rich on tour three times now, and it’s become clear that you can always expect a show filled with powerful music and genuine fun on stage. Whether you’re happy, heartbroken, in love, or mad as hell, Big & Rich will probably make you feel a whole lot better about it. This time was no exception. In fact, maybe it’s photo pit bias, but it may be the best show I have seen them give!

Big & Rich take their time during the show to create meaningful moments, and one of the most powerful came just before they performed “The 8th of November,” a song that tells the story of the 173rd Airborne Division and the danger they faced in War Zone D, Vietnam, during Operation Hump. Since this show took place the day after the 81st anniversary of D-Day, John Rich took a heartfelt moment to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who served, speaking passionately about what their courage means to all of us before inviting a few veterans on stage by name to be recognized. And of course, it would not be a Big & Rich show without the whiskey. Each veteran was handed a double shot of Redneck Riviera, poured proudly by the band.

The guys opened on their usual back to back turn up tunes “Rollin (the ballad of Big & Rich)” and “Comin To Your City” and spread the love across their catalog. Hitting on party anthems like the aforementioned, love songs, patriotism, and of course “Save A Horse, Ride a Cowboy” with Gretchen Wilson and Cowboy Troy joining in!

I could not write this article without talking about Gretchen Wilson. No, seriously, it would be a major miss on my part as a journalist. When you see a lineup that says “Artist A with Artist B,” you typically expect two separate sets. However, I do not think Gretchen Wilson or Big & Rich have ever really followed the typical path. Instead, Big & Rich delivered a power-packed three-quarters of a set before bringing out the country queen herself to perform a slew of hits shared between the acts. Of course, the opener was her anthem “Here for the Party.”

Personally, I loved this layout because it kept the energy high. Too often, a crowd cools down during a set change, and even the best crews in the world cannot fully make up for the drop in energy that hits when the music stops. No amount of efficiency can replace momentum. Gretchen Wilson delivered every song with the same raw power that made country music fans fall in love with her in the first place. I grew up on country, and “Redneck Woman” was definitely in regular rotation on my mom’s car stereo, so for me, it was absolutely a “yup, still got it” experience.

Cowboy Troy lit up the stage with his larger-than-life presence, jumping in on some of the crowd’s favorite tracks and bringing his unique country-rap flavor to the party. He adds an extra level of excitement every time he steps on stage, and it’s no coincidence that songs like “Rollin’” and “Chicken with a Train” have become such massive crowd favorites. His features on those tracks always deliver a big pop when played live. While he didn’t take over the spotlight with a solo set, his chemistry with Big & Rich kept the energy sky-high and the crowd fully engaged. Earlier in the night, DJ Sinister kicked things off with a seriously fun, high-powered set that had the whole crowd moving. His mixes and hype work were a blast and definitely beats having some random playlist rolling before the main act takes the stage.

To close things out, I’ve got to throw some mad love to the Wild Adventures staff and the fans who flocked to Valdosta for this show. Saturday was hot, humid, and at one point, everyone got very, very wet, but none of that stopped the good times. The staff showed up with full professionalism, and the crowd brought full energy from start to finish. Combine that with a lineup of artists who are well on their way to legendary status, and you’ve got a recipe for one unforgettable, high-octane redneck party.