Reba packs in fans at USANA

REBA MCENTIRE, BRAD PAISLEY, TERRI CLARK, USANA Amphitheater, Saturday.

WEST VALLEY CITY — As one concertgoer aptly put it Saturday night, Reba McEntire is old-school country.

That she is. Strutting across the stage in a lavishly decorated jacket and sequined pants, McEntire put on a good old-fashioned country concert to open the season at West Valley's USANA Amphitheater.

A fixture on the country-music scene since her first No. 1 record in 1982 ("Can't Even Get the Blues No More," which she included in a montage of her early hits), McEntire has never faded from the spotlight. Twenty years later, she has yet another No. 1 single ("Somebody"), a hit television show and a starring Broadway role under her belt. And if the demographic of Saturday night's crowd is any indication, she continues to pick up new fans at every turn.

For almost an hour and a half, McEntire delighted her audience with her top hits over the past three decades. More than any other country singer, each of McEntire's songs tells a story, from the chilling "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" to the heartbreaking "You Lie," it's easy to get lost in the message of the music.

And then there's the delivery. McEntire is, more than anything else, a performer. Although it's obvious she has fun in front of the crowd, there should be no question that each move is planned well in advance. Still, McEntire's energy and enthusiasm more than made up for any lack of spontaneity on Saturday.

Besides, spontaneity appeared to be the main order of business for McEntire's two openers — Terri Clark and Brad Paisley. Both country-music superstars in their own right, Clark and Paisley got the night started right with their easy-going delivery and fun-filled performances.

Clark took the stage first, in her trademark cowboy hat, jeans and T-shirt. (Saturday's was a hot pink number with the message: "No beer goggles necessary.") Despite some equipment problems and the setting sun in her eyes, which prompted one kind fan to throw up a pair of sunglasses, Clark delivered a great set, singing such top hits as "Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me," "Emotional Girl," and "Girls Lie, Too."

Paisley picked up where Clark left off, kicking off his show with his hit "Celebrity," poking fun at the rich and famous. Paisley and his six-piece band delivered a round of lighthearted songs before reaching the highlight of his hourlong set — the hauntingly beautiful "Whiskey Lullaby." Duet partner Allison Krauss appeared on video for her portion of the ballad, with Paisley seated on a stool in front of the screen.

To the audience's delight, all three parts of the "Two Hats and a Redhead Tour" appeared onstage together during McEntire's encore. First, with McEntire and Clark facing off in the contentious "Does He Love You?" (with Paisley on guitar), followed by a rousing version of "Oklahoma Swing" and finally on The Everly Brothers' (and later Linda Ronstadt's) "When Will I Be Loved."

McEntire has nine concert dates left on her 2005 tour, which ends July 8 in Minnesota. Presented by sponsor Whirlpool, $1 of each ticket sale goes to Habitat for Humanity.

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E-mail: awelling@desnews.com