Sometimes there is a moment at a concert that transforms a typical performance into something epically entertaining. Country music superstar Carrie Underwood has had many high points during her blockbuster career, but her 2019 CMA Fest performance took a place among one of her best thanks to a surprise appearance by another music legend — Joan Jett.
The duo might sound a bit unconventional on the surface. After all, Underwood is one of the queens of country music, and Joan Jett is a notorious rocker. Yet, what might not look like a great pairing on paper can lead to some amazing surprises on stage.
The annual CMA Fest, which was televised on Aug. 3, is one of country music’s biggest live events, and Underwood surprised the crowd by performing a medley of Jett’s biggest hits. Fans of both singers likely know Underwood sang a song for the 2015 season of Sunday Night Football inspired by Jett’s “I Hate Myself For Loving You.”
Flash forward four years and the two singing superstars created some powerful musical magic on stage, much to the crowd’s delight. Even Underwood was a bit starstruck.
“Dreams come true at #CMFest,” she posted on Instagram on June 8 during the taping. “This is mine. Just to be in the same room as @joanjett is really cool…to share the stage with her is indescribable! She is truly a legend and is probably the coolest person I have ever met. I was so proud to show her how amazing our CMA Fest crowd is! What a night!”
Jett played guitar and teamed up with Underwood to sing her greatest hits, including “I Hate Myself For Loving You,” “Bad Reputation,” “Crimson & Clover,” “Fresh Start” and “I Love Rock ‘N Roll.”
Taste of Country shared a video that included segments of the duo belting out “Hate Myself” and “I Love Rock ‘N Roll,” and it does look like they’re rocking hard:
Country Music Insight posted this fan clip captured on a phone on their YouTube channel. This snipped from the Underwood-Jet set includes “Hate Myself,” “Bad Reputation” and “Crimson and Clover”:
Underwood has been a fan of Jett’s for a while and thought a collaboration between the two would be fun. The country star was thrilled when Jett agreed.
“The more I got to know her and see just how much of a trailblazer she was, for not just women in her genre of music, but of women in music in general,” she told The Boot. “I mean, I’m a fan on every level: personally, professionally, musically,” Underwood says. “I’m honored she’s heard my name before, and that she agreed to come sing with me.”
If you missed the show, don’t worry. You can still stream clips of CMA Fest at ABC.
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