by Jeanni Ritchie
Allie and I arrived at the Paragon Resort’s Mari Showroom amid a sea of denim and cowboy hats. It was 90’s country revisited, with three superstars from yesteryear. Sammy Kershaw, Collin Raye, and Aaron Tippin took the stage taking me back in time to when my kids were little and we’d dance around the living room to their hits.
They sang them all, starting with a medley of one of each other’s hits which the other two sang back-up. Kershaw started with Cadillac Style, Tippin sang Working Man’s PhD, and Raye sang My Kind of Girl. They’d come out again at the end and cover a medley of hits they called the “rock and roll portion” but first each artist had their own set.
Sammy Kershaw, Louisiana native, stayed on stage and sang Third Rate Romance, Yard Sale (his mother’s favorite of his hits), She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful, Vidalia, and Queen of My Double-Wide Trailer which saw the lights going on toward the audience as we were invited to sing along.
They’d last time Kershaw had played in Marksville was 5 years ago. He remembered the time well because his daughter was then two weeks old. Tilley is an adorable 5 years ago old now and came out during the final set to wave hello to the crowd and do a little dancing of her own. She is a true showman, following in her daddy’s footsteps. Hey, there’s a song for you, Sammy!
In 2008, Sammy Kershaw was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in honor of his career achievements and was also inducted into the Louisiana Songwriters Association Hall Of Fame in 2010. He has 19 albums and has spearheaded the Roots and Boots tour for over eight years.
Aaron Tippin was up next. I’d spent the previous 12 hours with not one, but two birthday parties at a local gym with kids from 2-12 and then dinner with the most rambunctious grandsons ever. Put ALL of those kids together and you MIGHT reach the energy level Aaron Tippin has. He is a physical performer, using his body as well as his words to tell a story. He connected with the audience in a way that made you want him in your corner. Known as the working man’s artist, you already feel like he is!
He sang the powerful You’ve Got to Stand for Something, followed by My Blue Angel, and the patriotic Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly, played on a special flag guitar. He made no apologies for his commitment to the flag, the Pledge of Allegiance, and this nation and told the crowd if they didn’t like it, that’s too {dang} bad! He then immediately launched into Kiss This in which he frighteningly emulated a woman to perfection!!
With nine studio albums, six gold certifications and one platinum certification, he has charted more than thirty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including three Number Ones.
Collin Raye was the final performer and he showed that his voice is as strong as it ever was. The master of story songs, he sang Little Red Rodeo; Little Rock; One Boy, One Girl; Love, Me; and the song I’d quoted just that afternoon: That’s My Story!
I’d been serving cake at the birthday party with a makeshift knife and had icing all over my fingers. Trying to decide between Southern manners and the childhood glee of licking food off one’s fingers, I said “I cannot leave these kids unattended to wash my hands so I must lick my fingers instead.” I winked at the teenage girls sitting nearby and continued, “At least, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!”
Raye (born Floyd- my grandpa’s name-Wray) has charted 30 singles on the U.S. country charts, four of which went to number one. He has also recorded a total of 11 studio albums. Nominated for Top Male Vocalist from 1997-2000, it was easy to see why!
Kershaw and Tippin regained Raye for the final set playing Hands to Yourself (Georgia Satellite), Drinkin’ My Baby Goodbye (The Charlie Daniels Band), and Gimme Three Steps (Lynyrd Skynrd).
It was an amazing performance by all three! They will be in Lake Charles on September 6, 2025. If you love 90’s concert, you’ll might want to head south to see it!
Alas, I couldn’t get backstage passes to meet the singers so as the show ended, I walked back to my car facetiously singing Aaron’s hit, That’s As Close As I’ll Get to Loving You…
I’ve seen some incredible shows at the Paragon this past year but this is the one I looked forward to the most. Seeing it on Bandsintown back in January, I immediately put it on my calendar, making sure to be in town this weekend. I am so glad I did! I sure went back to MY roots!
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
