A handful of dates into her second headlining trek, Anne Wilson made her Ryman debut with an unforgettable sold-out performance in Nashville, Tenn., on Sept. 25, 2024. The former home of the Grand Ole Opry proved the perfect setting to showcase Wilson’s 17-song set defined by the polished pop-country she so wholesomely embodies on “The REBEL Tour.”
Named after her sophomore LP, “The REBEL Tour” will take the Kentucky native to 28 cities through November, but her stop at the Mother Church was a particularly memorable visit given the iconic venue and the large number of Wilson’s friends and family in attendance.
Following an impressive half-hour set by outspoken believer and country crooner Jordan Rowe, the three-time K-LOVE Fan Award winner took the stage clad in denim-on-denim and powder blue boots, accented by a pop of color courtesy of a pink floral scarf tied effortlessly around her neck. Appearing atop the center square amid a series of tiered risers, Wilson kicked off the night with the rock-country exuberance of the tour’s namesake.
From the start, the singer/songwriter commanded the stage with a newfound confidence that continued straight into the autobiographical “God & Country” and previous radio hit “Sunday Sermons.” “My hope is that every song we sing tonight comes back to this one simple truth,” Wilson shared before launching into the bridge of “Sunday Sermons” with the familiar refrain from Sunday School staple “Jesus Loves Me.”
Stoking the fire of her momentum, Wilson rocketed right into a pair of girl-power anthems. With the assistance of her dad, the petite singer jumped down from the high stage and into the crowd, completing a lap around the main floor during “Hey Girl.”
Stepping up to a mic stand adorned with red bandanas, Wilson continued dispensing her heart-to-heart advice during fan favorite “Red Flag,” which saw concertgoers surprise the singer by holding up paper red flags across the Ryman’s rows of pews.
Wrapping a full-throttle opening set with her most recent No. 1 single, “Strong,” Wilson settled into a sitting position for an acoustic portion where she briefly detailed the life-shattering story of losing her brother in a tragic car accident. “I’m truly so thankful for how God has turned this horrible tragedy into something beautiful,” Wilson remarked as she set up the campy “Dirt Roads in Heaven,” accompanied by a cello and two acoustic guitars. Visibly emotional, she followed the tear-inducing selection with “What A Beautiful Name,” the well-known worship offering she performed at her brother’s funeral.
Rounding out the stripped-down segment with two additional songs, the stage went dark, and the sound of thunder filled the intimate auditorium as the crew reset the stage for “Rain in the Rearview,” Wilson’s notable country radio debut. Her soaring range stole the spotlight on the bridge, while her five-piece band continued to display their deft musicianship and well-honed backing vocals.
Wilson then surprised the Nashville crowd by welcoming CMA Award winner Jordan Davis. Together, the duet partners perched on stools for “Country Gold,” their heartfelt collaboration found on “REBEL.”
Throughout the evening, Wilson repeatedly affirmed her deep faith by unashamedly declaring her belief in Jesus. Her introduction to new song “Stand” was no exception. Bathed in red, white and blue lighting, the 22-year-old boldly proclaimed her unwavering love for God and her allegiance to America before setting her creed to melody in the patriotic original.
Transitioning to a lighter, sassier mood, Wilson donned a custom cowhide electric for “Songs About Whiskey,” arguably one of the most fun moments of the night as concertgoers sang along to every word with Wilson’s crossover to country summed up in the chorus: “I guess I’m just kinda fixed on the only thing that’s ever fixed me. That’s why I sing songs about Jesus instead of singing songs about whiskey.”
“I’ve been able to share the Gospel with people who have maybe never heard it before,” Wilson offered of the recent doors that have opened for her in country music before presenting fresh worship single “The Cross.” Although she originally recorded the resurrection-centric selection with Chris Tomlin, Wilson handled the crescendoing ballad just fine on her own.
She closed her main set the way it began — with a blazing burst of energy ignited by a combustible combination of rock and country thanks to “Devil,” a definitive barnburner from her first album.
Calling the night “a dream come true,” Wilson exited the stage for a few minutes of predictable suspense before returning for the song that unexpectedly propelled her from an unassuming southern belle to a rising superstar. She and her band gave their all to “My Jesus,” which had the crowd on their feet, belting every word.
From the evening’s first hints of banjo to the set design that mirrored the wide open fields of Wilson’s home state, the chart-topping songstress leaned wholeheartedly into her country roots. Yet, never once did she forsake her Christian values. If anything, her success in the country space only makes her strong faith-based stance that much more brazen.
While Wilson gave a muscular vocal performance and exhibited evident growth as an entertainer throughout the well-rehearsed set that found her skipping around the stage with an unbridled energy, it was the sea of young girls who filled the audience that told the bigger story.
In just a few short years, Wilson has quickly become a positive role model for young girls everywhere. Her impact could be traced in their huge smiles — full of sheer joy and awe — as they sang along to songs that talked about finding their identity in Christ and not settling for boys who don’t treat them like a daughter of the King. Mimicking Wilson’s style in boots and floral prairie dresses or proudly sporting Anne Wilson T-shirts and cowboy hats, these little girls beamed with delight as Wilson waved to them from stage and made them feel like dear friends with her southern sensibilities and sweet demeanor.
A shining example of what it means to be both an outspoken artist and a woman of faith, Wilson isn’t just making country cool again, she’s making Jesus cool again. And if her stop in Music City is any indication, young Swifties (and their moms) looking for a Christian alternative may have just found their answer in Wilson, whose Ryman debut proved two things can be true at the same time. Turns out, you can love Jesus and country music.
Wilson’s “Rebel Tour” rolls coast-to-coast through the fall.
“The REBEL Tour” Setlist
Ryman Auditorium // Nashville, TN
September 25, 2024
“REBEL”
“God & Country”
“Sunday Sermons”
“Hey Girl”
“Red Flag”
“Strong”
Acoustic Portion:
“Dirt Roads in Heaven”
“What A Beautiful Name”
“How Great Thou Art” (with Jordan Rowe)
“My Father’s Daughter”
“Rain in the Rearview”
“Country Gold” (with Jordan Davis)
“Stand”
“Songs About Whiskey”
“The Cross”
“Devil”
Encore:
“My Jesus”
