by Michele Schmidt

Sunday night at the Moody Theatre was an electrifying experience at the Back to Wy tour. People were practically skipping to their seats in excitement before the show began. As the room started to fill up, you could see a plethora of cowboy boots, hats, sequin dusters, and as Wynonna said of herself when she came on stage, “sparkles and spanx!”

Wynonna Judd’s fans love her and she adores them right back. She started off the concert by saying, “There’s a lot of spirit in here tonight!” Wynonna commanded the stage with confidence and sass. After taking a tally of who was attending her concert for the first time she said, “What the heck? It’s about time!”

Wynonna was grateful to her fans of over 40 years and was hoping to connect with some new ones that night. She talked about how hard it was without her mom but that she was continuing to “turn my pain into my purpose” as she belted out beautiful ballads. She had a great rapport with the audience, cracking jokes and telling them she knew they loved her, that’s why she was there.

Her band was outfitted in baby blue jackets while she was in a black velvet ensemble with sparkly embellishments. Her husband, drummer Cactus Moser, was clearly smitten with his wife. Every chance he got he told the audience how lucky they were to hear her sing. Wynonna was playful, interactive, and loving with the band and her fans. When Wynonna started reading a fan’s sign that had a phone number, she said, “You never know about me” which gained widespread laughter from the crowd.

She sounded smooth as she performed “My Strongest Weakness” and had the crowd join in as she sang “Mama He’s Crazy” without the band. Her husband kissed her on the cheek during “Love Is Alive.” He then shared a story about the last time they were at ACL Live and Wynonna spontaneously said they should get remarried. Moser proclaimed to the audience that the very next time they came to this theater they would get married on that stage.

There was a short intermission and the band came back out wearing black jackets while Wynonna had changed into a fiery red velvet top that matched her hair. The pace of the songs picked up and Wynonna’s vocals were deep and hearty. She alluded to a recent performance that had not gone well and said how thankful she was that she still had it. She was on fire!

Rocking out to the Led Zeppelin cover, “Rock and Roll” she ended the concert on a high note. She told the audience that this was “The most amazing place I’ve ever played!” Shortly after the show she hopped on her Instagram stories and said, “I just got off stage here in Austin, TX, one of the greatest crowds I have ever sung to in my entire career and I’m not even kidding you. Wow! That was one of the greatest experiences of my life.”

A theme of the night was not to let anyone tell you how to live your life. Wynonna left it all on the stage and her fans poured right back into her cup. Every audience member went home feeling whole and inspired. There was definitely something special in the air at ACL Live that night.

Check out all our photos from the show at Austin 101 Magazine.

Set list:
What It Takes
She Is His Only Need
I Saw the Light
My Strongest Weakness
When I Reach the Place I’m Going
No One Else on Earth
It’s Never Easy to Say Goodbye
A Little Bit of Love (Goes a Long, Long Way)
All of That Love From Here
Live With Jesus
Mama He’s Crazy (The Judds song)
Love Is Alive (The Judds song)
Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Old Days) (The Judds song)
What the World Needs
Tell Me Why
Rock Bottom
Only Love
Let’s Make a Baby King (Jesse Winchester cover)
Is It Over Yet
Father Sun
Girls With Guitars
Just Like New
I Just Drove By
That Was Yesterday
Why Not Me (The Judds song)
You Make My Heart Beat Too Fast (Buddy & Julie Miller cover)
Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin cover)