After raving about attending my first Wynonna show back in August of last year, I was excited to learn she would be returning for another show near me less than one year later. Of course, I went to the May 9, show at Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville and drug a friend along for her first “Hurricane Wy” experience. (Which, I might add, she thoroughly enjoyed.)
Miss Wy once again opened the show with “Heaven Help My Heart,” one of my absolute all-time favorites of hers. From that opening number, I knew this would be one magical show. Don’t get me wrong, she was fantastic the first time, but at some points during the show, I could tell she was not quite herself with everything going on in her personal at that time. This time, however, she was definitely in a better place and ready to rock and have fun. She had a great time chatting up the lively crowd and enlisting them to sing for her on the Judds classics “Mama He’s Crazy” and “Grandpa.”
Wy/Judds music has always moved me and inspired me, and I often find myself singing along with the fun, up tempo songs, and being reduced to tears with the heartbreaking ballads. And watching Wy perform those songs live with that amazing voice of hers only intensified those emotions. I was totally moved and just let the emotion and sheer power of her voice and the music wash over me to soak up every minute of the experience. I was on my feet cheering and singing along during rockers like “Rock Bottom,” “Tell Me Why,” and “What it Takes.” And at the other end of the spectrum, I became a complete puddle when she belted out the big, heartfelt ballads.
One of the highlights of the night for me, as it was last time, was when Wy sang “I Can Only Imagine.” I don’t what it is, but there is just something so intense and uplifting about Wy’s emotional delivery of this contemporary Christian anthem, which holds such strong personal meaning for her. My friend and I literally got chills during that one.
When she introduced another all-time personal favorite Judds tearjerker, “River of Time,” I was a total goner. As soon as I heard the opening notes, I looked over at my friend and told her to get ready because I was going to lose it during that one. That song has always been a personal favorite of mine and has helped me through many tough times in my life. I was crying the entire time while watching Wy’s expressions as she sang this powerful song written by her mother, Naomi Judd. When she nailed the “money note” at the end of the bridge, there are simply no words to describe it. The crowd blew the roof off the place and I totally had goose bumps. Unbelievable! Definitely the biggest chill bump raising moment of the show.
To close out the show, Wy performed “Love Can Build a Bridge” and “At Last,” a cover of the Etta James classic, which is slated to be included on her upcoming release this fall. (I cannot wait for this cd!)
For the encore, fans gathered at the front of the stage for a raucous sing-along of her biggest solo hit “No One Else on Earth.” The crowd sang every word along with Wy, and she handed the microphone down to a cute little girl who couldn’t have been more than four or five. This little girl, to Wy’s amazement, sang every single word of the chorus without missing a beat, and the crowd roared its approval. Very cool moment!
Miss Wy may not make the award show circuit anymore or have the radio success and award nominations of the next generation coming up, but she’s still got it and can definitely teach the newcomers a thing or two. Keep on rockin’ Hurricane Wy!
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