Archuleta, Paisley rock the crowd at Stadium of Fire

PROVO —  The Stadium of Fire, held Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium, began reverently and built to a deafening roar.

"Tonight we begin on a serious note," host Chad Lewis said while introducing the evening's first act, a musical rendition of the Gettysburg Address, part of a tribute to the Civil War.

Immediately after, the Stadium of Fire Chorus began singing "God Bless the U.S.A" while a group of paragliders flew into the stadium, carrying the American flag.

"That's what I call getting things off to a flying start," Lewis said.

The National Anthem was then sung, first by a video of a 13-year-old David Archuleta singing on the Stadium of Fire stage and then by Archuleta himself, who took over the duties from his younger self after a few lines of lyrics.

Archeleta, a Utah native and American Idol runner-up, was greeted warmly by his home crowd, but the real volume came when headliner Brad Paisley took to the stage, greeted by screams and a storm of camera flashes from the crowd.

Kayla Johnson and her grandmother Annette Reid attended the event together, wearing matching cowgirl hats and Brad Paisley t-shirts.

"He's one fine looking man," Kayla Johnson said.

Johnson's and Reid's admiration for Paisley went beyond mere looks. Reid said his music "makes you feel good" and Johnson said his songs have emotional depth.

"His music, I think, it's more heartfelt than other country songs," Johnson said.

Sara Torgerson and her son Aaron stopped at the event to see Paisley on a road trip from their home in Whitefish, Mont. to Reno.

"I like his humor," Torgerson said. "He's obviously a very good entertainer and guitarist, but I like anybody that can laugh at themselves."

Paisly didn't say much during his performance, focusing instead on his music. When he did address the crowd, expressed his gratitude for members of the armed services and his love for the United States.

"We're gonna stay here as long as they'll let us and then watch the greatest fireworks display in the world," Paisley said.

Paisley's act alternated between high energy and melancholy songs. Before one slower song, Paisley asked how many people in the crowd were in love, drawing cheers from the audience.